BLOGS


October 2 Dirty words


Cameron’s keynote speech to the Conservative Party conference will focus on the critical role of business, seeking to emphasis that “profi t is not a dirty word”.


The Government’s reforms have seen profi t being brought in to a number of arenas that have been traditionally public, as well as the introduction of payment by results for new programmes.


In theory getting rewarded only by success makes sense. Additionally it’s not the intrinsic nature of profi t that has led to so many protests and campaigns, particularly around the NHS.


It’s the impact this has on the quality of the service provided that is most important, although simple distrust of private sector motivations also plays a part.


In some cases the pursuit of profi t can and will actively improve public services. In others it won’t – all those warnings about slippery slopes should not be completely discounted.


Profi t isn’t a dirty word, but that doesn’t mean it is the be-all and end-all of the public sector either.


September 30 Nothing for something


George Osborne’s speech today will set out how we can squeeze yet more ‘effectiveness’ out of those who have nothing – by instigating mandatory daily job centre visits, community service or intensive training for the long- term unemployed.


Instead of addressing the issue of the Work Programme failing to make any difference to the number of people employed for a decent length of time, the Chancellor will take another opportunity to criticise and penalise those who “get something for nothing”.


The benefi ts all sound excellent, though the actual science behind the link with attainment – which would be by far the biggest reason to implement the policy if proven – remains a little fuzzy.


It’s an interesting move for the Coalition though, which otherwise has tended to want to deal with austerity through means-testing, and the Lib Dems in particular have raised concerns about the ‘free perks’ enjoyed by richer pensioners at public expense. Maybe it’s different with children.


September 11 Taxes and axes


Furore over the bedroom tax – or spare room subsidy, depending on your political agenda – continues to rise, as a UN housing specialist has called for the policy to be axed.


Shapps was right to criticise Rolnik’s premature conclusions, ahead of her report due next spring. It is unwise to form


18 | public sector executive Sep/Oct 13 i More blogs like this at:


www.publicsectorexecutive.com/ the-ravens-daily-blog


This is a policy of punishment, rather than support. Turning the blame onto the poor, the disabled, the hundreds of thousands of people this Government has recast as scroungers and shirkers, is easy. It is far, far easier than actually doing something about the unemployment rate, and has the added benefi t that if (when) it fails, it is their fault, not Osborne’s.


September 18 Yum yum


Free school meals is a popular policy, unsurprisingly – its benefi ts are easy to understand and immediate, and the costs through taxation relatively small and indirect.


recommendations before an investigation really begins.


But his focus on her coming to Britain without an invite, and without meeting communities’ secretary Eric Pickles (which she did) is defensive and irrelevant. To compile a report of the UK’s housing situation, it is imperative to actually visit and take a look around.


And besides, what about defending the policy itself, rather than attacking the UN for coming looking?


September 10 Turned around?


The fi rst results of the Troubled Families scheme have now been published, celebrating thousands of lives ‘turned around’ by council intervention. Less truancy,


unemployment, crime and costs are all great steps forward.


But these families are by defi nition “hard to help”. Their problems are complex and intertwined and underlined by a complete absence of trust in anyone who offers help.


This announcement smacks of a Government desperate for results at the expense of actual improvement. Turning families’ lives around is a slow and diffi cult process – the danger of these statistics, and of payment by results itself, is that a minimum of intervention may be taking place in order to meet quotas.


Taking the time and effort required to really make a difference may not be as politically useful, or headline-grabbing, as some impressive-sounding fi gures. But it would be great policy.


© Blackpool Council


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