‘Choice Cuts’ essays on the improvement of local public services

‘Choice Cuts’ essays on the improvement of local public services
Publication Date: June 23rd, 2004
ISBN: 1 903 447 41 0
Authored by: Rt Hon Nick Raynsford MP, Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, Jan Wilson, Steve Bundred
Hardcopy Price: ££10

The Choice agenda in public services is one that people have strong feelings about. Theoretical debates rage on whetherit represents a capitulation to consumerism, the break-up orsaving of the welfare state, whether equity can be preserved in such a system or whether it is just a carrot to keep the middle class on board.



But at the front line of public service delivery, lead figures across local government are getting on with trying to bring in this agenda because they know that imposed, uniform standards so often fall short of the needs of a diverse and changing community. They want to make sure that income is not a barrier to the more personally tailored, responsive quality of services that the better off can buy in the market place.



This NLGN collection of essays explores the way forward for
choice in local public services. Minister for Local Government Nick Raynsford MP gives a strong argument for the agenda to be pursued, although with care, and Steve Bundred, Chief Executive of the Audit Commission backs this up. In addition very different council leaders from very different places, Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart of Kent and Jan Wilson of Sheffield, explain how they are using the concept of choice to help shape better services for their communities.



As councils continue to move towards a new public ethos that prioritizes and empowers the citizen, choice will clearly have a role to play. This report will help both policy makers and practitioners better understand that role.


‘ChoiceCuts’.pdf
(PDF: Introduction version)


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