March/April

 

Neighbourhood Services: What matters to people on the doorstep!

Since 2010, spending on neighbourhood services has fallen more steeply than any other combined local authority budget area. As well as playing an integral role in boosting local economies, investment in high quality neighbourhood services can save public funds; helping to reduce poor physical and mental health outcomes. This is why APSE’s latest campaign makes the case for investing in these vital services that make our neighbourhoods liveable.

Click here for more information about this campaign and how to get involved.

 

APSE Direct – March/April

The latest edition of APSE Direct is available to read online. Articles include:

• Risk and Commercialisation: A guide for local scrutiny councillors - Ed Hammond, Director of Research, Centre for Public Scrutiny;
• Investing in the future - Daniel Mather, Head of Corporate Finance, Warrington Borough Council;
• APSE at 20 - featuring contributions from key figures in local government;
• Making use of the Apprenticeship Levy - Victoria Hacking, APSE Principal Advisor.

Click here to read to read online!

 

SNP Spring Conference 2019

APSE will be hosting a fringe event at the SNP Spring Conference in Edinburgh on Sunday 28 April. In this early afternoon session (12.45pm – 1.45pm) APSE will explore the benefits of adopting a community wealth building approach to local council services, looking at how local authorities can deliver affordable housing, cheaper energy, jobs and skills within diminishing budgets. Charing the event will be APSE Scotland Chair Cllr Les Sharp.

If you are attending the Conference, we look forward to seeing you there!

 

Scottish Conservatives Party Conference 2019

APSE will be exhibiting at the Scottish Conservative Party Conference which is being held in Aberdeen on 3-4 May. If you are attending the event, be sure to head over to the APSE stand for a chat!

 

The new municipalism: Taking back entrepreneurship

This report examines the initiatives and the emerging practices of municipal entrepreneurialism. This report explores genuinely innovative ways of working to demonstrate how local authorities are intervening in markets to deliver outcomes that go beyond financial benefits. Complete with case studies this report is a robust source of information for all those in local government who wish to develop an entrepreneurial approach to support both frontline services and the communities and local economies in which they are based. The full report is available to download for free from the APSE website. To purchase a hard copy, please complete the online form.

 

Welcoming our newest staff member!

APSE is delighted to announce our newest member of staff - Abi Ademiluyi. Abi will take over from Lorna Holland as Principal Advisor for the Southern region. Abi can be contacted on [email protected]

 

The Local Government Physical Activity Partnership

The Partnership - consisting of Community Leisure UK, Active Partnerships, Local Government Association, Sport England, the Chief Cultural and Leisure Officers Association and APSE - aims to underline the social and economic value of physical activity and the vital role the public sector plays in driving better physical outcomes. Our first think piece explores the need for a strong over-arching policy position across the sector, as well as the issues of integration of physical activity across both traditional and non-traditional platforms. Click here to read online.

 

Northern Ireland Partnership Board Meeting

In collaboration with NILGA, APSE met to explore partnership working between different stakeholders in Northern Ireland, including business partner, third sector charities and working with local councils.

 

Housing roundtable

APSE/TCPS held a roundtable discussion on the 26 March 2019. The roundtable was attended by local authority officers, elected members and key stakeholders. Discussion at the session centred around the challenges and challenges impacting the social housing sector. The key themes emerged around permitted development, the standards and quality of new build, skills of the workforce of the future and the resources and expertise in local authority planning. The outcomes from the roundtable will inform the recommendations in the APSE / TCPA research, ‘Housing for a fair society.’

 

Keeping up to speed with the latest energy developments

The APSE Energy webpage is updated regularly so you can keep up to speed with the latest energy news. Previous APSE energy updates include key themes from the APSE Big Energy Summit 2019 as well as the Local Authority EV Infrastructure Responsibility

 

Highways Innovation Awards 2019!

APSE is delighted to announce the winners of the Highways Innovation Awards 2019, as well as the winner of this year’s Highways and Street Lighting Apprentice Award. The winners were presented with their awards at the APSE Highways, Street Lighting and Winter Maintenance Seminar in Blackpool on 20 March. Congratulations to all of our excellent finalists! For a full list of this year's finalists and photographs from the event click here.

 

Latest Briefings

·         Resources and Waste Strategy for England: Government Policy paper.

This briefing considers the newly announced Resources and Waste Strategy for England. It contains details about the focus within the strategy and how it is proposed to finance and resource the changes. Click here to read online.

·         Resources and Waste Strategy - Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee inquiry into the impacts on local authorities

As a result of the impacts the strategy proposals could have on local authorities the MHCLG will consult on the various implications of the strategy on local authorities. This briefing allows local authorities the opportunity to respond to the select committee to ensure any changes brought about as a result of the Resources and Waste Strategy are deliverable and successful. Click here to read online.

·         Trend Analyses 2017/18. These briefings provide details on the performance information available from APSE’s performance networks service; looking at performance indicators and current policy issues for councils who deliver:

• Transport Services
• Street Lighting Services
• Highways and Winter Maintenance Services
• Sport and Leisure Services

 

BEIS Local Energy Team

APSE Energy has a new website page dedicated to the Local Energy Team that sits within the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The page includes information about the Local Energy Team, the benefits of local energy projects, how the team can help local authorities and LEPs, the local energy hubs that exist across England and case studies of local energy in action. The local authority case studies are from Nottingham City Council and Bristol City Council. 

 

New Approved Partners

APSE is delighted to welcome the following organisations to our Approved Partner scheme:

WAMITAB

WAMITAB is an awarding organisation and charity that develops qualifications for those working in cleaning; street cleansing; facilities management; resource management and recycling and parking from operative through to management level. With over 120 qualification pathways and 70 quality assured centres, WAMITAB offers a comprehensive specialist network to support staff development. Click here to learn more about this exciting new partnership.

Hanson UK

Hanson Asphalt and Contracting Services is a leading supplier of heavy building materials to the construction industry; producing aggregates (crushed rock, sand and gravel), ready-mixed concrete, asphalt, cement and cement related materials. Hanson also has extensive experience of highways construction works, operating throughout the UK. Click here to learn more about this exciting new partnership.

WJ Group

WJ Group are the largest independent road marking company in the United Kingdom; dedicated to permanent and temporary road markings, road studs, high friction and safety surfacing, average speed cameras, asphalt joint repair and surface retexturing. They have depots based in Scotland, Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Buckinghamshire and Somerset. Click here to learn more about this exciting new partnership.

RP Martin

RP Martin have over 100 years’ experience in the world’s financial markets. With offices in London and Edinburgh, they are experienced in delivering bespoke and relevant services to public sector and corporate clients alike. Click here to learn more about this exciting new partnership.

 

Save the date

Wednesday 11 – Thursday 12 September

APSE Annual Seminar 2019 in Newcastle (including the APSE AGM and APSE Annual Service Awards Charity Dinner)

 

Upcoming seminars and advisory group dates

Seminars / Energy Seminars / Advisory groups National, Wales, Northern Ireland Scotland, Southern,

 

APSE Training courses

Click here for the full list of current APSE Training courses.