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Proposals for a major consolidation initiative within the
accountancy profession returned to the spotlight in December
when Councils of the three bodies (CIPFA, CIMA and ICAEW)
met to scrutinise the results of the detailed discussions
negotiations which have taken place over the past few months.
The Chief Executives of the three bodies said in a press
statement:
'We believe that we have made good progress in our discussions.
Not least each institute has been able to begin the process
of sharing thinking with members and using their feedback
to help shape emerging proposals.
We now need to give Institute Councils the opportunity to
review our progress and to identify any further issues which
require exploration'.
The three institutes’ plans are intended to deliver
broader and deeper member services, provide increased influence
across industry and Government and ensure the long term future
of the profession for the next generation of Chartered Accountants.
They would create an organisation with 200,000 members and
a significant student base across a wide number of countries.
The new body would unify the business, practice and public
sectors and quickly become the authoritative voice across
the accountancy profession.
CIPFA members are invited to submit comments and exhange
views with fellow members in a discussion forum on CIPFA’s
website at http://www.cipfa.org.uk/consolidation/forum.cfm.
The CIPFA Learning Centre is being developed to support members
in their Continuing Professional Development. The online resource
will provide technical and management development materials
and will
be launched at the CIPFA Conference in June 2005. To make
sure the Centre will support your development needs, please
complete the online questionaire before 31 December at
http://www.cipfa.org.uk/cpd/questionnaire_clc_login.cfm.
Following the Chancellor’s pre-Budget speech on 2
December, in which he spoke of the Better Regulation and Deregulation
Agenda, CIPFA has announced the launch of a new award developed
in partnership with the Regulatory Impact Unit: Creative Solutions
- the award for better regulation.
This award is for individuals or teams who have devised innovative
effective, customer-focused ways of meeting policy objectives
without recourse to regulation. It is also open to those who
have delivered reform, for example by modernising processes
or legislation, which has led to deregulation - that is the
removal or reduction of regulatory burdens or unnecessary
bureaucracy for business, front line staff or the public.
The deadline for nominations for this new category is 31
December 2004. For further information contact Helen McDonnell
on 020 7543 5872 or helen.mcdonnell@cipfa.org
http://www.publicservants.org.uk
There is still time to submit an entry for the Public Reporting
and Accountability Awards. This scheme aims to encourage excellence
in public reporting and to identify and celebrate the best
practice organisations whose imaginative approaches help to
achieve real advances in accountability. The deadline for
submissions is 28 February and entry is simple - all organisations
have to do is send a 500 word description of their overall
public reporting strategy and include three public documents
illustrating their approach in practice. These might include
annual reports, corporate or other plans, performance reports
or newsletters. Any activities (such as an innovative website)
which raise awareness of the strategy should be highlighted
in the 500-word statement.
For more information and to enter online please email helen.mcdonnell@cipfa.org
or visit the awards website:
http://www.cipfa.org.uk/accountability
 Sponsored
by The Department for International Development (DFID), 'The
Rough Guide to a Better World and how you can make a difference'
explains the issues surrounding global poverty and the unsung
efforts of those working to combat these problems. To obtain
your FREE copy, please visit any Post Office branch; limited
copies are also available from christine.new@cipfa.org.
As part of CIPFA's strategic grant agreement with the DFID,
there is a need to disseminate and promote best practice in
public sector financial management. This includes both UK
and developing countries best practice that would have applicability
and relevance in a wider international context. Accordingly,
CIPFA and DFID have launched a Technical Briefing series of
International Development best practice.
The first of these is on Gender and Participatory Budgeting.
This concept was first developed in Australia in the 1980s
and has since been adapted and adopted in a number of developing
countries.
Download further information (PDF size: 80KB):
http://www.cipfa.org.uk/international/download/gender_booklet.pdf
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The CIPFA/LASAAC Joint Committee is inviting
comments on proposed changes to the local
authority SORP. The consultation sets out the Joint
Committee's proposals for amendments to the
current SORP to apply to accounting periods commencing
on or after 1 April 2005 and also consults on the broad
options for the capital
financing charge (notional interest). Comments
are invited by 31 January 2005.
http://www.cipfa.org.uk/pt/
pt_details_c.cfm?news_id=21727
In September, the ODPM wrote to all authorities
about the management of anticipated increases in employers'
contributions and invited CIPFA's Pensions panel to
consider issuing supplementary guidance in order to
assist authorities to deal with the outcomes of the
recent actuarial valuation. The panel has now produced
this guidance, available for download
from the website:
http://www.cipfa.org.uk/panels/pensions/index.cfm
The role of the panel is to oversee the
preparation of CIPFA's responses and inputs to key debates
and developments in respect of the local government
financial and managerial policy agenda. View current
activities of the panel at http://www.cipfa.org.uk/panels/lgpp/index.cfm.
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CIPFA has responded to the International
Federation of Accountants (IFAC)'s Exposure Draft on
'Proposed Statements of Membership Obligations (SMOs)'.
CIPFA fully supports the stance taken by IFAC towards
restoring the credibility of financial reporting and
believes the exposure draft on SMOs to be a positive
step in this direction.
Read the Response in full at
http://www.cipfa.org.uk/pt/
pt_details_r.cfm?news_id=18152.
The Independent Commission on Good Governance
in Public Services, established by CIPFA and OPM, in
partnership with Joseph Rowntree
Foundation, has invited comments on the draft Good Governance
Standard for Public Services. This comprises six core
principles of good governance and sets out the what
the organisation needs to do to live up to the Standard.
The final Version of the Standard will be published
in January
2005. Further information on the work of the Commission
can be viewed at http://www.opm.co.uk/ICGGPS/questions.htm.
The Cliff Nicholson Award recognises innovation and
excellence in public sector audit. Entry to this award
provides an excellent opportunity for audit to demonstrate
the valuable contribution it can make to modern, effective
public service organsitions.
The deadline for nominations is 17 January 2005.
http://www.cipfa.org.uk/pt/award.cfm
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The latest edition of Scottish News, the newsletter of CIPFA
in Scotland, is now available online at http://www.cipfa.org.uk/
scotland/download/Newsletter_December_04.pdf (PDF size:
361 KB)
CIPFA in Scotland Annual Conference & Exhibition
10 & 11 March 2005, Glasgow
The CIPFA in Scotland Annual Conference & Exhibition
is the flagship event for Scottish public services. The 2004
conference set the standard on many levels, with delegates
leaving the conference feeling inspired to raise standards
in public services. The 2005 conference entitled Investing
in Success: A Scotland Where Everyone Counts aims to build
on last year's success.
http://www.cipfa.org.uk/scotland/conference/
Events in Spring 2005:
- Introductory Diploma In Management, Glasgow
- Best Practice In Project Management, Glasgow
- Best Practice In Performance Management, Glasgow
- CIPFA Diploma in Public Audit, Edinburgh
For further information, please visit http://www.cipfa.org.uk/scotland/events.cfm
Over 120 delegates attended the recent CIPFA in Wales Annual
Conference with more than 160 enjoying the Annual Dinner.
To read a review of the conference, please visit http://www.cipfa.org.uk/members/spreadsheet/dec04/
details.cfm?news_id=22233
Following the success of the new programme of public training
courses for Wales during 2004, we are delighted
to announce the launch of two new Accredited Training Programmes
for Wales in 2005. For further information, please visit http://www.cipfa.org.uk/wales/accredited_courses.cfm.
The Tom Sowerby Award is presented each year for outstanding
service to CIPFA students. The winner is invited as CIPFA's
guest to the prestigious annual conference which in 2005 will
be held at Manchester International Convention Centre. This
is an excellent way to give your colleagues, mentors, or tutors
the recognition they deserve. Nominations for the 2005 Awards
are now being invited: for further information and to download
a nomination form, please visit http://www.cipfa.org.uk/eandt/sowerby.cfm.
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IPF has recently established PRG, a small
team specialising in public policy evaluation and resource
analysis. This was partly in response to market demands
and partly to provide a policy focus for the interpretation
and analysis of IPF’s extensive databases.
PRG is being led by Anna Capaldi, IPF’s recently
appointed Director of Policy and Research.
Anna has undertaken resource allocation, financial
profiling and performance improvement assignments for
a wide range of clients, including government departments;
local authorities; the NHS; police authorities; fire
authorities and the
not-for-profit sector.
She has also acted as specialist adviser to the House
of Commons Select Committees on local government finance
and regularly speaks at seminars on funding and resource
allocation.
The fourth edition of the statistical
research bulletin was published during November and
is available at http://www.cipfastats.net
The Education Finance Advisory Network (Ed-FAN) will help
local authorities tackle and manage the huge programme
of change that is about to hit education finance officers.
The CIPFA-SOCITM Network: Improvement Through Technology
(ITT) has been launched together with the Society of
IT Managers (SOCITM). It aims to support public sector
improvement programmes by providing a blend of perspectives
and expertise
that reflect the core strengths of CIPFA and SOCITM.
The Highways Asset Management Planning Network (HAMP)
has been launched by the Asset Management Planning Network
(AMP) and the County Surveyors Society (CSS).
Insurance Benchmarking
A questionnaire is currently being piloted with eight
volunteer Authorities. The Club is due for launch in early
2005. Finance Benchmarking 2005
IPF Benchmarking are preparing to re-launch the Finance
Benchmarking Clubs for 2005. In 2004 the Clubs attracted
over 1,550 members and the re-join rate was over 80%.
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Human Resources Benchmarking
Having completed the initial pilot exercise with six
volunteering Authorities, the new Benchmarking Club
for Human Resources will be effective from 10 January
2005.
Police Financial Services Benchmarking
This is the fourth year of the Club's operation. The
2005 Club will be directed by a steering committee of
members which will meet in London on 13 January 2005.
Community Plus is a survey evaluating
perceptions and awareness of library services amongst
residents, whether or not they are library users. Following
a pilot in Autumn 2004 involving a select number of
local authorities, the survey will be launched in Spring
2005.
IPF and St Helens Council will be demonstrating
the software and explaining the implementation issues
for the St Helens Strategic Performance Planning and
Management Framework for local authorities
in London on Tuesday 21 December. Further events in
London and northern England are planned for January,
February and March 2005. Admission
is free but places are limited. Contact keith.morris@ipf.co.uk
or 07900 570 980.
The CIPFA Finance Advisory Network (FAN) has just
concluded a very successful series on implementing the
Prudential Code with over 200 delegates attending and
excellent feedback received.
The obligatory Statement of Internal Control covering
corporate risk identification in local government has
also proved to be a winner for the CIPFA FAN with an
extremely high uptake of delegate places.
In terms of briefings, the CIPFA FAN is considering
the ODPM technical note on Gershon savings and how it
might be applied in local government.
For more information visit: http://www.ipf.co.uk/finance |
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| NHS Procurement and Contract
Management: Preparing for Gershon - 25 January,
London More...
Education Panel Finance Course: Every Child Matters
– Joining up Education, Health and Social
Services - 4 March, London More...
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| Standing Guide to the Commissioning
of Local Authority Work and Services – Version
2 More...
Systems Based Auditing: Control Matrices for Information
Technology More...
Local Government Internal Audit Manual (Fully
Revised Second Edition) More...
Group Accounts in Local Authorities: Practitioners'
Workbook (2004) More...
Best Value Accounting: Code of Practice 2004 -
More...
Guidance for Smaller Public Service
Organisations on the Application of the CIPFA
Code of Practice for Treasury Management in the
Public Services More...
Issues Raised by the Balance of Funding Review
and the Lyons Inquiry More...
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The President and Chief
Executive attended the FEE General Assembly
in Brussels on 15 December.
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The CIPFA group has a number of training
and conference rooms which are available for hire
in various central London locations:
CIPFA, Robert Street (WC2N).
Charing Cross/Embankment stations. For further
information, visit http://www.cipfa.org.uk/
conference_centre
CETC, Borough High Street (SE1).
Borough station. Contact marilyn.clarke@cipfa.org
for details.
IPF, Queen Anne's Gate (SW1H).
St James Park station. Contact Conf.Centre@ipf.co.uk
for details.
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