The report assesses the two unitary options for Bedfordshire – a unitary county and two unitary councils consisting of Bedford and Central Bedfordshire (combining Mid and South Bedfordshire District Councils). It is critical of all of the proposals and finds serious flaws in the Government’s option appraisal process, particularly the absence of an enhanced two-tier developmental option and the narrow assessment criteria. Commissioned by 4 UNISON branches in Bedfordshire and submitted to DCLG.
The European Services Strategy Unit has published a new study ‘Shared Services in Britain’ commissioned by the Australian Institute for Social Research and the Public Service Association. This comprehensive report examines various models and examples of public sector shared services, costs and benefits, employment impacts, governance and transparency and the long-term implications of shared services in the government’s transformation agenda for public services.
Shared Services in Australia: A companion study of shared services in Australia by the Australian Institute for Social Research for the Public Service Association of South Australia. It draws out the lessons learnt by state government shared services programmes.
This ESSU Research Report focuses on appraisal criteria, which are a fundamental part of the options appraisal process. It outlines out the key stages in the appraisal process. As options appraisal becomes a more common tool in public management there is evidence that ‘appraisal bias’ is leading to pre-selected options and construction of particular outcomes by the selective use of evidence and narrow evaluation criteria. Yet a rigorous and investigative approach can be very productive, directing attention to longer-term needs rather than short- term interests. The Options Appraisal Criteria Matrix has twelve sections, which cover the full range of issues that should be taken into account in appraising options.