Welcome to APSE

APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) is a not for profit local government body working with over 300 councils throughout the UK. Promoting excellence in public services, APSE is the foremost specialist in local authority front line services, hosting a network for front line service providers in areas such as waste and refuse collection, parks and environmental services, leisure, school meals, cleaning, housing and building maintenance. We hope you enjoy our website.

Performance: Is this the oracle for better services?

APSE has long advocated a better approach within Government to public service reform. We have therefore tacitly welcomed a new report published by Oracle looking at public services and performance. Performance management is not about much maligned meaningless targets but about how we can best use limited resources to maximise our performance in terms of both cost and quality. Using performance data we can learn from best practice and realise the service improvements at the front line.

Whilst APSE does not necessarily agree with all the statements in the Oracle report it does goes someway to starting a dialogue about how we can take forward the performance management culture within local government. You can download the Oracle report by clicking here. The debate on performance management will continue in the light of the cabinet office report on releasing greater efficiencies in the public sector but what we do know is that APSE members, already used to collecting data through our performance networks service, are best placed to provide the evidence of their own performance when an inspector calls.

Swine flu; It’s about you

Whilst the national media has concentrated on the efforts of the department of health and defra in addressing the possibility of a pandemic flu outbreak it is important to remember that local government has a key role to play in responding to national emergencies. The preparedness of services to vulnerable people such as older people or children, or building cleaning services, being on hand to help clients cope with increased demand for strict hygiene level means that right across local government both the public and clients alike will be reliant upon front line services. APSE has already produced and interim briefing on dealing with these threats from a front line service perspective and you can download our briefing here.

Cllr Arwyn Woolcock

Think twice! Before commissioning...

APSE with the LGIU and UNISON has produced a new guide for elected members ‘ Think Twice: The role of elected members in commissioning’. The guide which is free of charge can be downloaded here, free of charge, in PDF format. Copies have already been widely distributed across the UK via elected member services but if you require additional hard copies of this report please email your request here. This short guide explains why it is essential that elected members should get involved in the commissioning process and make sure their voice is heard before service delivery options are decided upon.

You can read a short article on this topic written by APSE national chair Councillor Arwyn Woolcock by clicking here.

The MJ Offer for APSE members

The MJ is a leading journal offering local authorities up-to-date information on all aspects of local government from policy through to service delivery, covering articles, information and reports, to keep you and your service area bang up to date with all the latest news. Issued every Thursday The MJ usually costs £140 per year but APSE has negotiated a special offer on behalf of our contacts that currently do not subscribe to The MJ, which is a reduced subscription of £77 for the year. If you would like to take advantage of this offer please click here to download the special offer form and return to APSE.