Understanding value for money in local authority led public services: what it is and what drives it and how can it be measured?
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sussex
Department Name: Sch of Business Management & Economics
Abstract
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People |
ORCID iD |
| Michael Barrow (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
| Description | Value for money in decentralised government |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Review of how to ensure value for money within government (particularly at local level) including the use of performance indicators, decentralisation and accountability. My review was carried out within the Dept for Communities and Local Government and the impact of the worked through civil servants and their advice to policymakers and ministers. |
| Description | LARIA conference presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | My presentation covered work I did while at DCLG, making use of a dataset (the Place Survey) to investigate citizens' awareness of value for money offered by their local authority. Discussion of the paper followed the presentation. Influence on other academics and local government experts. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
| Description | Miscellaneous advisory activities |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | As part of my research fellowship at DCLG I got involved in a number of projects and used my expertise to advise. For example, the Manchester TAG involved civil servants from several government departments, representatives of Greater Manchester local government, consultants and other local government experts. I also advised within DCLG on 'Social Impact Bonds', an innovative way of financing certain social expenditures. There was a range of diverse issues on which I played a role, such as proposals for electing mayors. There were many instances of this sort of activity, ranging from significant to minor in importance. The work of the Manchester TAG was part of a stream of work which ultimately led to the more recent announcement of greater autonomy for Greater Manchester local authorities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010,2011 |
| Description | Paper presented at NAO |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Conference paper, provoking discussion and generating networking contacts. Continued discussions and contacts with the NAO took place during my year's fellowship at DCLG. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | Workshop on Value for Money, organised at Dept for CLG in London. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Workshop arranged at Dept of Community and Local Government in London, bringing together policymakers, academics, local government officials to discuss the issue of achieving and measuring value for money within a more decentralised system of government. The workshop informed my own work for the fellowship and encouraged networking amongst participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |