PUBLIC SERVANT February 2012
PUBLIC SERVANT February edition out now
Cover Story
A strange bout of consensus has broken out across the political spectrum. Party leaders are jostling for headlines with speeches about the “moral economy”, “fairness” and building a more equitable capitalism. Models of public service delivery also face increasing pressures and scrutiny. The latest edition of Public Servant magazine explores where these vital issues intersect and finds that old state v market analysis is no solution to delivering the responsible society, innovation and efficiencies required. The power of the people must be harnessed in a longer-term political vision.
Top Stories
Tristram Hunt backs powerful evidence for new ways of delivering efficiency
Business Secretary Vince Cable feels the people’s anger and calls for an early amnesty on fairness
Jonathon Porritt accuses the Treasury of undermining sustainable growth and seeks a lead outside government
Everyone needs a stake in a more hopeful future, says Darra Singh
Labour MP David Lammy sets down his markers for a more responsible society – and finds David Cameron half way there
When will Whitehall learn? Peter Riddell on remedies for institutional memory loss
Independence for Scotland – what would Salmond do with it? asks Richard Kerley
Can you be trusted? Eric Pickles challenges councils to deliver growth
Problem families cash is spent badly, says Louise Casey
Changing NHS management structures will not deliver Nicholson’s savings
Spotting carers at the checkout – “nonsense” say MPs
How the UK Border bosses will reconnect with their staff
Councils must sweep away a spaghetti tangle of work and skills bodies
Largest health and social care merger set to save £30m
Tri-borough transparency – and West London’s new vision for working with government
Professor Calum Paton finds it’s back to the future for NHS reforms
How the housing target can be met – Tony Hutchinson
Planning for confusion? Will lawyers and consultants be the beneficiaries?
Special Report on green growth
Scotland’s powerful argument for sustainable energy
Leeds council leader makes the case for unlocking regional growth
Asset finance – a flexible friend to underpin sustainable growth?
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I’m most impressed by the breadth of issues covered – informative and engaging 
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LATEST PUBLIC SECTOR FEATURES
Thinking beyond environmentalism
The scale of environmental problems that we currently confront defies a piecemeal response, says Dr Tom Crompton, a change strategist at WWF-UK
We need a change of direction
Investment in renewable energy technology to cut greenhouse gas emissions has failed to create jobs or growth, says Matthew Sinclair, director of the TaxPayers' Alliance
Forget state v market analysis – people power will deliver
By embracing the ideas of shared ownership public services can give the perfect demonstration of the 'moral economy' – that cooperation and responsibility do lead to innovation and efficiency, writes Tristram Hunt
RELATED NEWS
Ofsted and school ''failed'' abused pupils
Ofsted failed to pick up any hint that children at a Somerset school were being abused, despite carrying out three inspections
Police numbers at lowest for a decade
In just one year, the number of police officers in England and Wales has gone down by a ''shocking'' 6,012
Business rate plans ''must be simplified''
''We have to find ways to make the system work,'' says Sir Merrick Cockell of localised business rate retention plans
£9bn on problem families ''badly spent''
Up to £8bn of the £9bn spent each year could be saved through cost-effective interventions, argues Louise Casey
More information called for on Met's meetings
Tom Watson urges Metropolitan Police to go further than Dame Elizabeth Filkin's transparency recommendations
''Labour should have helped private sector more''
The last Labour government should have invested more in the private sector, Mandelson has suggested
The new-look Public Servant magazine makes an excellent show case for those breaking news stories on the public sector that will be so much a feature of national debate in the next few months. Good design focuses the reader's attention on the content. Public Servant is always interesting and the new design is an even better presentation of its content. These issues that might have once seemed dry – public finance, service reform, accountability and accounting transparency – are now the key battleground for the future of the public sector. Public Servant does an excellent job of exploring those topics and always has an eclectic mix of commentators to offer useful insights.