Change in Government: the Agenda for Leadership

HC 714, Thirteenth Report of Session 2010-12 - Volume I: Report and Appendices, Together with Formal Minutes and Oral and Written Evidence

Author:

House of Commons - Public Administration Select Committee

Publisher:

TSO (The Stationery Office)

Price: £17.50

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The report 'Change in Government: the Agenda for Leadership (HC 714)', details the Civil Service's sizeable challenge: to transfer power out of Whitehall and into communities, and as a result fundamentally change the way it works, as requested by the Coalition Government.

The Committee found that while the Government seeks to embrace change, they have failed to recognise the scale of reform required or to set out the change programme required to achieve this reform. The lack of coordination from the centre and strong political leadership will result in the failure of key policies like the 'Big Society' agenda.

The Committee recommended a comprehensive change programme articulating clearly what the Government believes the Civil Services is for, how it must change and with a timetable of clear milestones.

The change programme must also include proposals for the Civil Service to retain and develop the new skill sets required to meet the demands of the Big Society policy agenda, and address long-running concerns about the decline in specialist expertise in Whitehall, the failure to innovate and take risks, and the failure to work across departmental silos.

The Committee has also recommended that the Government considers the development of a new Haldane model of accountability or they must explain how the current model remains relevant.

The new realities of devolving power out of Whitehall to local government and elsewhere should be codified in the Civil Service governance structure.

Extent	129 pages	ISBN	9780215561565
Size	A4	Price	£17.50
Format	Paperback	Published	22 Sep 2011
Availability	Colour copy: 3 - 5 days	Delivery	Delivery options and charges