September

In pictures: The winners of the Annual Service Awards 2018

APSE is delighted to present a gallery of the winners from the APSE Annual Service Awards 2018. Please feel free to download the photographs by clicking on them. This will open a larger copy in a new window. Click here to view the gallery. The gallery also contains links to video clips of the winners. These clips have been uploaded to the Annual Service Awards 2018 playlist on our APSE YouTube channel.

Future Communities: Greener, Cleaner, Smarter

In a unique communications partnership, APSE and ITN Productions present a news and long-form current affairs-style programme highlighting APSE’s vision to encourage healthy, environmentally friendly and smart solutions for local communities. The news-style piece is anchored by award-winning journalist and presenter Alice Beer, and combines key interviews and reports with sponsored editorial profiles from leading organisations. Click here to view the full programme.

Ewe won’t be disappointed: APSE launches the Land Audit Management System (LAMS)

APSE, in collaboration with bbits, has recently launched its LAMS quality inspection system. For more information about this simple and effective performance measuring tool, and to view our short and easy-to-follow tutorial videos, click here.

New Municipalism

APSE hosted a round-table discussion at the Labour Party conference to support its ongoing work on insourcing. Chaired by Cllr John Kerr Brown, our new national chair, this event explored the initial findings of the research due to be published later this year. A strategic forum was also held in Liverpool during the course of the conference to share the findings of APSE research on New Municipalism. You can read the full report and download a copy here.

APSE at the SNP Conference: Commercialisation in local government

APSE will be hosting a fringe event at the SNP Conference in Glasgow on Monday 8 October. The fringe event will consist of a panel discussion asking whether councils act more commercially to help bridge the funding gap and deliver on big public policy outcomes. Chaired by Cllr Les Sharp, the panel will include APSE Chief Executive Paul O’Brien, Ivan McKee MSP, Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation, and Cllr Cecil Meiklejohn, Leader of Falkirk Council. For more about information about this event and how to get involved, please contact [email protected].

Universal Infant Free School Meals Project

In collaboration with LACA, APSE is developing a State of the Nation report on the impact of Universal Free School Meals. There will be a Parliamentary launch of the report on 13 November 2018 and members will receive an invite to the event in due course. To ensure that your voice is represented, we have compiled a survey. All questions relate to 2017-18 financial year. The deadline for responses is 26 October 2018. We would appreciate it if you could take 5-10 minutes to answer the survey.

Property Matters!

APSE is hosting a fringe event at the Conservative Conference 2018 in Birmingham on Tuesday to discuss the value of property and assets investment in supporting local council income generation. Cllr Giles McNeill will be chairing this session for APSE. You can read more about our research with CIPFA property services using this link.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to our new National Chair, Cllr John Kerr-Brown of Warrington Council, and new National Secretary Anita Brown of Stockton-on-Tees Council. They were officially elected at the National AGM which took place in Edinburgh during the APSE Annual Seminar.

NILGA Conference 2018

APSE is delighted to sponsor the NILGA Conference 2018 and Local Government Awards Northern Ireland 2018 on 11 October in Armagh City. The event offers delegates a unique opportunity to discuss the big issues and challenges in the sector. If you are attending then remember to visit the APSE stand as Debbie Johns, Head of APSE’s Performance Networks service, will be on hand to share information and advice on getting the most from your data, performance reports and actioning the findings to improve your council performance with free demonstration sessions to explore the service. Further information about the event can be found here.

Welcoming our newest staff member!

APSE is delighted to announce our newest member of staff, Energy Research and Project Officer Charlotte Banks. Having recently obtained a Master’s degree in Environmental Governance from the University of Manchester, Charlotte will be responsible for boosting the work of APSE Energy, expanding the membership and offering support to help councils move forward with the energy agenda. Charlotte can be contacted on [email protected].

Excellent response to the Parks Action Group survey

Thank you to all of those who participated in the recent PAG survey. The information collected will enable APSE and the wider PAG to develop suggestions for bridging gaps in training which will be forwarded to government. A summary of the findings will be presented at the APSE Refuse, Recycling, Street Scene, Grounds and Parks Seminar 2018. Delegates present will be able to contribute to the findings further, so if you wish to make your voice heard book your place at the seminar now!

The Revised National Planning Policy Framework

The Government has committed to building 300,000 new homes a year and to facilitate this aim, has undertaken to review existing planning policy. Following the publication of the Housing White Paper, the Government has undertaken various consultations which has resulted in the publication of the Revised National Planning Policy Framework and an associated suite of documents. The latest APSE briefing provides an overview of the Framework.