================================================================= CIPFA E-NEWSLETTER - MAY 2007 http://www.cipfa.org.uk ================================================================= Dear Colleague Welcome to the May edition of the CIPFA e-newsletter. In this month's issue: CIPFA 2007 Annual Conference and Exhibition International Seminar CIPFA Career Conference The Public Servants of the Year Awards 2007 Public Reporting and Accountability Awards Survey of Local Authority Chief Financial Officers Good Governance in Local Government Panel Newsletters Available to Download Housing Panel Response to DCLG Consultation RSLs Panel Bulletin - Treasury Management in RSLs Response to DfES School Consultation Social Services Panel Upcoming Publications Regeneration: Managing the Skills Gap Public Money & Management Call for Papers Certificate in Charity Finance & Accountancy CETC’s John Sandbach Memorial Prizewinner CIPFA in Scotland News CIPFA in Northern Ireland News CIPFA in the Regions News PMPA News Improved Membership Directory Learning at Work Day 2007 IT Faculty/ISACA Annual Conference New Blood for CIPFA Council Upcoming Events in the CIPFA Shop New Publications in the CIPFA Shop Out and About Conference Centre Facilities -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CIPFA 2007 Conference & Exhibition - Book Your Place Now --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bournemouth, 12-14 June 2007 It's that time of the year again! The CIPFA Annual Conference - one of the largest in the public services calendar - offers a bold and imaginative programme of distinguished speakers. Significant changes are once again in prospect in just about all parts of the UK’s multi-centred, multi-tiered public services. But what are the real drivers for policy change and what are the key choices available to policy makers? How much further change and progress is necessary and can realistically be delivered as the rate of growth in funding and investment slows? The speakers include: Rod Aldridge, the founder and former Chairman of the CAPITA Group Rt. Hon. Ken Clarke QC, MP, former Chancellor of the Exchequer Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the TUC Professor David Coleman, Professor of Demography at Oxford University Tarique Ghaffur, Assistant Commissioner, Head of Central Operations, Metropolitan Police Michael O’Higgins, Chairman of the Audit Commission And many more… We hope you will be there to play your part in a very important and stimulating debate which really matters.visit the CIPFA 2007 Conference webpages for full conference programme information. Book your place now! ONLINE - HOTLINE 0207 543 5675 - EMAIL - POST a booking form Find out about booking your stand at www.cipfa.org.uk/exhibitions/cipfa2007.cfm. Click on the link below to see Steve Freer's interview for CIPFA TV. www.itnconsulting.co.uk/itnconsulting/CIPFA/FREER/FREER%20CUT%201.wmv International Seminar ---------------------- Bournemouth, Thursday 14 June "How the UK can help in improving developing and transition economy country public sector performance" is the theme of the international seminar taking place at the CIPFA annual conference. This seminar will include presentations on how international aid organisations measure improvements in country public financial management, a case study on how a country can actually put in place policies to achieve the millennium goals, and a session on how public organisations in the UK can provide practical assistance. Full details of the programme are available at www.cipfa.org.uk/conference/international.cfm and all delegates are invited to attend! To reserve your place contact Margot Gallie on margot.gallie@cipfa.org. Expanding Your Horizons - CIPFA Career Conference ------------------------------------------------- Bournemouth, Weds 13 June 2007 The Annual CIPFA Career Conference takes place this year at the prestigious Bournemouth International Centre on 13 June, during the CIPFA Annual Conference. It is FREE OF CHARGE for students and newly qualified members and designed to stimulate, entertain and provide practical advice on managing your career. Delegates will be able to hear from newly-qualified and established CIPFA members, who will discuss their experiences and give valuable career tips. For the full programme please visit www.cipfa.org.uk/conference/career_conf.cfm or to reserve your place contact Margot Gallie on margot.gallie@cipfa.org. The Public Finance Public Servants of the Year Awards 2007 ----------------------------------------------------------- The response to our call for nominations for the 2007 Pride in Public Services - Public Servants of the Year Awards has once again been overwhelming. The rigorous work of marking and judging the entries is now under way and the finalists will be announced at the end of June. Thank you and good luck to everyone who has sent in a nomination. Your efforts are inspiring and we look forward to celebrating them at the awards ceremony on 16 October 2007. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. To learn more about becoming a sponsor contact mike.spray@publicfinance.co.uk. Tickets are available for the awards ceremony. For your chance to be amongst the guests at this important occasion, hosted by Nicholas Owen and Felicity Barr, contact juliet.hutchings@cipfa.org. For further information, visit www.publicservants.org.uk. Public Reporting and Accountability Awards ------------------------------------------ The judging process for the CIPFA/PricewaterhouseCoopers PRA awards is also well underway. Applications have been assessed against five evaluation criteria by a team of scrutineers, the awards moderator and ultimately the panel of guest judges. The winners will be announced at the ceremony, taking place on Wednesday 13 June at CIPFA’s annual conference and will be followed by the Annual Accountability Lecture given by Professor Robert Hazell CBE, Director of the Constitution Unit, UCL. If you would like further information, as it becomes available, about entering for the 2008 awards please contact juliet.hutchings@cipfa.org. POLICY AND TECHNICAL ==================== Housing Panel Response to DCLG consultation ------------------------------------------- CIPFA’s response to the recent DCLG consultation on Housing Revenue Account subsidy: payments to local authorities to offset rental income foregone can be downloaded from: www.cipfa.org.uk/panels/housing Social Services Panel Upcoming Publications ------------------------------------------- The Social Services Panel has commissioned further guidance on Working towards Self Directed Care to be published later in the year. A bulletin on NHS LIFT was published online in April at: www.cipfa.org.uk/pt Survey of Chief Financial Officers ---------------------------------- Chief Financial Officers of all local authorities in the UK are invited to respond by 29 May to the survey sent to them on 27 April. The survey follows up previous CIPFA research. The results will enable CIPFA to ascertain whether there is any significant change in 2007 from the 2005 position (which can be read about at: www.cipfa.org.uk/panels/lgpp) Regeneration: Managing the Skills Gap ------------------------------------- The lack of management skills in the regeneration community is highlighted in a special report published today. Senior academics and practitioners, writing in the latest issue of the journal, Public Money and Management, highlight the specific skills gaps currently affecting regeneration management. Drawing on case studies and empirical research the authors address these skills gaps and provide insights to stimulate discussion. www.cipfa.org.uk/pt/pmm Panel Newsletters Available to Download --------------------------------------- Children's Services Panel www.cipfa.org.uk/panels/childrens_services Further and Higher Education Panel Newsletter www.cipfa.org.uk/newsletters/fandhe/spring07.html Response to DfES School Travel and Transport Consultation --------------------------------------------------------- The Children's Services Panel prepared a response to the DfES Consultation on: School Travel and Transport. The full text can be found at: www.cipfa.org.uk/panels/childrens_services Good Governance in Local Government - The Cipfa/Solace Framework ---------------------------------------------------------------- The joint working group sponsored by CIPFA and SOLACE including representatives from other key local government bodies has almost completed its work on developing a revised framework for governance in local government. Read more at: www.cipfa.org.uk/panels/corporate_governance RSLs Panel bulletin - Treasury Management in RSLs -------------------------------------------------- This bulletin provides a brief overview of treasury management and is aimed specifically for RSL Board Members or those Members who have responsibility for overseeing and establishing an appropriate risk framework for the treasury activity. This bulletin is not a practitioner’s guide but it may be helpful to those new to the sector and Treasury Management. Included at the end of the bulletin is a Checklist for RSL Board Members, which summarises the key risks which the governing body will need to ensure are adequately addressed as part of their overall approach to treasury management. The bulletin can be found on the Panel’s website at: http://www.cipfa.org.uk/panels/RSL/index.cfm Public Money & Management Call for Papers ----------------------------------------- Lean production and public management - Guest editor: Zoe Radnor, Warwick Business School. Articles submissions, in the form of 1,000 word abstracts, can be submitted until 31 July. There will also be a seminar on Monday 17 September 2007 linked to the theme. Visit www.cipfa.org.uk/pt/pmm/pmm_2007.cfm for further details. STUDENTS ======== Certificate in Charity Finance & Accountancy – Delivering effective financial management to charities ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This new course is due to run in September in 2007. Designed by CIPFA and London South Bank University (LSBU) it provides a joint professional and academic qualification for those working in the finance functions of charities, but who do not yet hold a recognised finance qualification directly relevant to their work. The pilot is already proving a success with candidates achieving good results in the first set of exams. Find out more about this unique qualification at www.cipfa.org.uk/charities CETC’s John Sandbach Memorial Prizewinner ----------------------------------------- Mark Murphy, a Department for Work and Pensions Financial Management trainee, has been awarded the John Sandbach Memorial Prize – an annual prize given by the CIPFA Education and Training Centre (CETC). More photographs and information on the CETC Prizewinners’ Lunch can be found on the CETC website: www.cetc.org.uk. CIPFA IN SCOTLAND ================ Training Courses and Events in Scotland --------------------------------------- 21st Century Budgeting Seminar - 8 June 2007, Edinburgh World class organisations are those which are continuously trying to improve the financial planning process to meet the demands set for management in creating sustainable value to the organisation. This seminar will explore a number of techniques/approaches which will give you ideas on how to improve your own organisation’s processes. Project Management Tools – 18 or 19 June 2007, Edinburgh Scrutiny for Elected Members – 20 June 2007, Glasgow For the full Training & Events programme for Spring/Summer 2007 go to www.cipfa.org.uk/scotland/events.cfm. CIPFA IN NORTHERN IRELAND ========================== CBranch Lunchtime Event – Sustainability of Public Services – Policy and Practice 1 June 2007, Castlereagh Borough Council, Castlereagh Richard Rogers, Chief Executive of the Environment and Heritage Service (EHS), will appraise the Government's sustainable development strategy, outline the role of the EHS in the delivery of that strategy and highlight what needs to be done in practice to ensure the local environment is protected for the future. In addition, a short practical case study on the cost and benefits of generating power for the Health Service through natural resources will be outlined by Clark Bailie, Assistant Director of Capital Development for the Northern Health & Social Care Trust. Book at www.cipfa.org.uk/ni/events.cfm or contact Nicola Greer at nicola.greer@cipfa.org/028 9026 6770 Grant-Funding: What’s Happening? 7 June 2007, The Stormont Hotel, Belfast CIPFA Northern Ireland is delighted to welcome Julia Unwin, Chief Executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, as the keynote speaker at this important seminar for funders. Book at www.cipfa.org.uk/ni/seminars.cfm. Forthcoming Training Courses ---------------------------- Project Management Tools, 4 June, Belfast Accruals Accounting, 4 & 5 June, Belfast Accountability and Control in Central Government , 6 June, Belfast On Board, 6 June, Belfast Ensuring Effective Board Meetings, 8 June, Belfast Conflict Resolution and Problem Solving, 12 & 13 June, Belfast Collecting Electronic/Digital Evidence, 13 & 14 June, Belfast Developing a Business Case and Economic Appraisal, 14 & 15 June, Belfast How Good is your Governance?, 14 & 15 June, Belfast Creating Successful Promotional Materials, 21 & 22 June, Belfast For further details and to book please visit www.cipfa.org.uk/ni/events.cfm CIPFA REGIONS ============= CIPFA in the North East - The Role of the Public Sector in Yorkshire and the Humber ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4th June, Leeds There are a number of strands to the day looking at the role and successes of key bodies that operate in the Region and how they interact with each other. The event has high profile speakers from across the major public sector agencies in the Yorkshire and Humber Region. The event is £75+vat, to find out more and to book please visit www.cipfa.org.uk/regions/ne/events.cfm PMPA NEWS ========= Evidence based policy making: What is evidence and how to use it? ----------------------------------------------------------------- Practitioner Exchange: Public Policy Discussion Forum. The National School of Government and the Public Management and Policy Association (PMPA) are working together to create opportunities for academics and practitioners in public policy and management and have devised a series of informal discussions, then next of which is: Using Citizen Views as Evidence 21 June 2007, London - Alan Doran, Director General for the Department of Health. For more information and to book, visit www.nationalschool.gov.uk Charity Boss Probes Poverty Pledges ----------------------------------- The Government’s commitment to eradicate child poverty has been called in to question by Martin Narey, the chief executive of Barnardo’s, in a hard hitting article. Writing in the journal of the Public Management and Policy Association (PMPA), the head of the children’s charity says the economic argument against radically enhancing the life chances of the UK’s 3.6 million poverty-stricken young people does not add up. Read more at www.pmpa.co.uk. PMPA Evening Lectures --------------------- Government and the NHS: Time for a New Relationship? 5th June 2007, 5.45, CIPFA Robert St The June PMPA lecture addresses the controversial issue of the potential for "arm’s-length governance for the NHS". To be given by Steve Dewar, Director of Funding and Development at the King’s Fund, this event will probe the conceptual and practical challenges – as well as the potential benefits of a change in relationship. Book online at www.pmpa.co.uk or contact Sandra Harper on info.pmpa.co.uk. BT/PMPA “Vision at Lunch” Free Lunchtime Seminar -------------------------------------------------- Leading and Measuring Improvement in Local Government 26 June, 12.00-2.30, QAG, London Barbara Roche; Professor John Wilson, Dean, Salford Business School, Colin Moore, Chief Executive, Redcar & Cleveland Council. To request a place at a BT/PMPA lunchtime seminar please email info.pmpa@cipfa.org. OTHER NEWS ========== Improved Membership Directory launched on the CIPFA Learning Centre website --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Member’s Directory has been re-launched with a new interface to make it easier for members to find other CIPFA colleagues. The directory lists every CPFA as well as CIPFA students, diploma holders and affiliate members. You can search by name, membership level or employer. As part of the My Membership area of the CLC website, the directory is just one of the excellent online facilities CIPFA offers to its members. Find the directory on the CLC website - http://learning.cipfa.org.uk Learning at Work Day 2007 – what’s your employer doing? ------------------------------------------------------- Learning at Work (LAW) Day is designed to encourage organisations and employees alike to recognise the importance of continuing to learn whilst we work. Work is the perfect place to explore new areas of our jobs and acquire new skills. Find out how you can get involved IT Faculty/ISACA Annual Conference 2007 --------------------------------------- 28 June 2007, Chartered Accountants’ Hall, London EC2 Secure Systems are Vital – the Devil’s in the Detail. Keynote speakers: Ed Gibson, Chief Security Advisory, Microsoft: From lack of Detail to E-Crime AND Charlie McMurdie, DCI, E-Crime Unit: The Law Enforcement Perspective of E-Crime. To find out more and to book visit www.icaew.com/index.cfm?route=147951 New Blood for CIPFA Council --------------------------- CIPFA has announced the election of two new members to its Council. Caroline Al-Beyerty, head of audit practice at the Audit Commission and Martin Sinclair, assistant auditor general of the National Audit Office were elected in an annual ballot of the Institute’s 13,000 members. Read the full press release at www.cipfa.org.uk/press CIPFA COMMERCIAL SERVICES ========================= The Road to Good Governance - What the Future Holds! ---------------------------------------------------- New Wembley Stadium - 18th October 2007 The CIPFA BGF Annual Conference is one of the leading events for all practitioners involved in delivering better governance in their organisation. This year’s conference will be a unique experience and will cover all BGF streams with a line up of nationally and internationally renowned speakers. The full conference programme will be made available in June. Details and booking forms are available from mohamed.hans@ipf.co.uk or at www.cipfanetworks.net/governance/events. Shared Services – The Practical Issues --------------------------------------- 3 July, London - 4 July, York - 10 July, Birmingham In July, the CIPFA Performance Improvement Network is running a series of workshops on Shared Services - The Practical Issues. The events will focus on: Progress so far Legal and governance issues Measuring the benefits Find out more at www.cipfanetworks.net/pin Focusing On Best Treasury Management Practices ---------------------------------------------- The CIPFA Treasury Management Forum (3rd series of workshops)Various dates in May/June 2007 - Birmingham, London & Manchester. News, Developments, Burning Issues What is Best Practice? Treasury and Investment Management Strategies The Implications of SoRP 2007 for Treasury Management Practices Events facilitated by Mike Griffiths and Peter Morley www.cipfanetworks.net/treasurymanagement CIPFA Health Advisory Network ----------------------------- Service Line Reporting (SLR) and the link with Patient Level Costing (PLC) 20 June, Manchester - 5 July, London What is Service Line Reporting? Linkages between SLR & PLC Developing the SLR culture Practical aspects of implementing SLR within your organisation Our workshops are aimed at finance managers from secondary care, particularly non Foundation Trusts. The event will be highly interactive, with places limited to allow maximum speaker/delegate interaction and facilitated discussion. www.cipfanetworks.net/health/events CIPFA Certificate in Investigative Practice Qualification - for Investigators Across Public Services. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bookings are now being taken for 2007. Training is in small groups, with modules in September, October and December. To book and for more information, visit www.cipfanetworks.net/governance or contact Julie.Lemasurier@ipf.co.uk/020 8667 8598. New Forum Supports Financial Literacy: -------------------------------------- The CIPFA Training and Development Forum for service managers (TDF-SM) is designed to support service managers in meeting their responsibilities for delivering effective financial management through a practical mix of guidance and training courses. If you would like to find out more about this new forum, visit www.cipfanetworks.net/training/tdfsm/about or contact Susan.Sloman@ipf.co.uk. New Courses & CONFERENCES ========================= CIPFA Social Care Finance Conference 2007 - 7 June 2007, York CIPFA Annual Conference & Exhibition 2007 - 12 June 2007, Bournemouth CIPFA 2007 Annual Conference - Gala Ball - 14 June 2007, Bournemouth CIPFA/ISACA IT Audit and Security Update 2007: Emerging Compliance Requirements - 20 June 2007, Birmingham Accounting for Financial Instruments in Local Government - 27 June 2007, London Open Courses ------------ European Funding Regulations - 12 June 2007, Cardiff Fraud Awareness for Grants Officers - 13 June 2007, Cardiff How Good is Your Governance? - 14 & 15 June 2007, London Developing a Business Case and Economic Appraisal - 25 & 26 June 2007, York Introduction to Internal Audit - 27 & 28 June 2007, York ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Details of all courses can be found at http://secure.cipfa.org.uk/cgi-bin/CIPFA.storefront/EN/catalog/0131 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ New Publications ================ Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in the United Kingdom: A Statement of Recommended Practice – Disclosure Checklist for 2006/2007 Accounts (2007) Local Authority Financial Administration Services: Emerging Trends in the Context of Shared Services (2007) The CJC Guide to Service Sharing and Economies of Scale (2007) Supporting People: The Essential Guide for Finance Practitioners (Fully Revised Fourth Edition 2007)(CD-ROM) (Available 18 June) Supporting People: The Essential Guide for Finance Practitioners (Fully Revised Fourth Edition 2007) (Book) (Available 18 June) Councillors’ Guide to Local Government Finance 2007 Fully Revised Edition (2007) (CD-ROM) (Available 21 June) Councillors’ Guide to Local Government Finance 2007 Fully Revised Edition (2007) (Book) (Available 21 June) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Details of all publications can be found at http://secure.cipfa.org.uk/cgi-bin/CIPFA.storefront/EN/catalog/1001 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SHOP News --------- For details of forthcoming publications and course & conferences in 2007 the 2007 publications catalogue and the 2007 courses & conferences programme are now available and free to download. Download the 2007 publications catalogue from http://www.cipfa.org.uk/shop/download/pubs_cat07.pdf [PDF: 1MB] If you would prefer a hard copy please email publications@cipfa.org and we will post one out to you. Download the 2007 courses & conferences programme from http://www.cipfa.org.uk/shop/download/Courses_&_Conferences_Programme_2007.pdf [PDF: 1MB] If you would prefer a hard copy please email courses@cipfa.org and we will post one out to you. OUT AND ABOUT ============= The Vice-President will attend a reception and present certificates to recently admitted CIPFA members at the CIPFA offices at 3 Robert St on 6 June from 18.30. The Chief Executive will be a speaker at a debate on 'Giving People the Power to Change Public Services' at the Public Matters: Public Services After CSR07 Conference which will debate on 7 June at Victoria Park Plaza in London President - Caroline Gardner Vice-President - John Butler Chief Executive - Steve Freer TRAINING AND CONFERENCE ROOMS FOR HIRE ************************************** The CIPFA group has a number of training and conference rooms which are available for hire in various convenient locations: CIPFA, Robert Street (WC2N). Charing Cross/Embankment stations. For further information, visit http://www.cipfa.org.uk/conference_centre.cfm CIPFA in Scotland, 496 Ferry Road, Edinburgh, EH5 2DL. Meeting room for max 8 people. Contact cipfa.scotland@cipfa.org. CIPFA Northern Ireland, 22 East Bridge Street, Belfast, BT1 3NR. Contact kathryn.sloan@cipfa.org for details. CETC, Borough High Street (SE1). Borough station. Contact marilyn.clarke@cetc.org.uk for details. CETC, 154 Great Charles Street, Birmingham (B3). New Street Station. Contact marilyn.clarke@cetc.org.uk for details. IPF, Queen Anne's Gate (SW1H). St James's Park station. Contact Conf.Centre@ipf.co.uk for details. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [This newsletter is part of CIPFA's online services. If you would prefer not to receive this newsletter, please email mia.spencer@cipfa.org]