Time to book your place at the CIPFA Conference 2004

Places are still available for the 2004 conference in Brighton from 15-17 June – and it’s possible to book online at www.cipfaconference.org.uk.

The theme of this year’s conference is “What next for public services?” and we are delighted that the Rt Hon Charles Kennedy MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats has agreed to give the closing address. Other eminent speakers include:

NICK RAYNSFORD, Minister of State for Local and Regional Government
EVAN DAVIS, Economics Editor, BBC
DIGBY JONES, Director-General, CBI
WILL HUTTON, Chief Executive, The Work Foundation
BRENDAN BARBER, General Secretary, TUC
PROFESSOR LINDA DICKENS, Director, Industrial Relations, Warwick Business School
MICHAEL PORTILLO MP and many others

Running parallel with conference sessions is a series of workshops held in partnership with organisations such as the Office of Public Management, the Audit Commission, IdeA and the Department for International Development.

More details and an online booking form are available on our website at www.cipfaconference.org.uk. To receive a copy of the programme send an email to margot.gallie@cipfa.org.

Annual Report and Financial Results reflect a very successful year

CIPFA is reporting another strong financial year with a surplus of £470,000 and turnover up 10% to £36,058,000 for the year ending 31 December 2003.

The CIPFA Council approved the results at the April Council meeting, noting in particular the successes of the Institute’s courses and conferences programme, topical and relevant publications and the education and training scheme.

The progress achieved in 2003 is fully reviewed in CIPFA's Annual Report which has recently been dispatched to members in preparation for the AGM on 17 June. Click here to read the Annual Report & Accounts 2003.

CIPFA's submission to The Commission for Africa

The UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, launched the Commission for Africa on Tuesday 4th May to take a fresh look at the challenges Africa faces. http://www.dfid.gov.uk/News/PressReleases/files/pr_africacom_secorganogram.pdf

The Commission will set out the facts on Africa and its assessment of policy (both within Africa and internationally): where it has worked; where it has failed; where more could be done; and where more support is needed from the international community. The Commission will conclude its work and report next spring.

CIPFA has been invited, as a Strategic Grant Agreement partner with DFID, along with other civil society organisations, to a meeting with Hilary Benn, Minister of State for International Development in
Birmingham on 17 May to discuss the Commission. This meeting will provide us with an early opportunity to flag issues which the Commision should consider within its terms of reference and outline areas where CIPFA can contribute to the International Development agenda in Africa.

CIPFA members and students are invited to submit contributions to guide us with the preparation of a preliminary submission. The Commission is required to report to the UK Cabinet by Spring 2005.
We will have the opportunity to submit a full submission before that deadline. Contributions to a preliminary CIPFA submission can be forwarded to christine.new@cipfa.org.

Events

CIPFA in Scotland AGM 2004
This will take place on Friday 21 May in the City Chambers, Glasgow, immediately after the Graduation Ceremony. The day will also include the Presidential Address by Hilary Daniels, the presentation of certificates to new members and the presentation of prizes. To download the full AGM Agenda, click here.

The Prudential Code Conference
Thursday 25 May, Edinburgh
The freedoms of the Prudential Code became effective on 1 April 2004. This conference will provide strategic and practical guidance while examining the full potential of the prudential regime. Click here for further details.

Further Upcoming Events

03-06-2004 Fraud Workshop
08-06-2004 Introduction to Local Government Finance in Scotland: Workshop
17-06-2004 Financial Standards Workshop
18-06-2004 Community Planning Conference: The Impact
28-06-2004 Business Planning Workshop
30-06-2004 Audit Committee Principles Workshop

CIPFA issues response to WAG Funding Paper

Read CIPFA's response to the WAG consultation on the Balance of Local Authority Funding in Wales in which CIPFA recommends a fundamental shift in the balance between local and central tax raising. Please click here http://www.cipfa.org.uk/wales/news_details.cfm?news_id=19792.

Events Coming Soon:

CIPFA in Wales Capital Conference 2004

The programme for the above which will specifically address issues from a perspective appropriate for Wales has been finalised and is planned for delivery in June. This year the conference will concentrate on the Prudential Code for Capital Finance and the Treasury Management Code of Practice. Further details will be made available at http://www.cipfa.org.uk/wales/events.cfm.

CIPFA in Wales Annual Public Services Finance Conference, 18-19 November, Vale of Glamorgan

An early bird booking offer of a discount of 15% for the residential package is available for this event until the
end of May. If you would like to take advantage of the offer, please click here to view further details for the event and to access the on-line booking form.

Call for Papers: 25th Anniversary Editions of Public Money & Management

2005 will be the 25th anniversary of CIPFA's Public Money & Management. It is also likely to be an election year. The editors have decided to mark these events with a series of special editions that take stock of our public policy and management. The first issue (Vol. 25, No. 1, January 2005) will be devoted to the state of public management. The editors will be interested to receive articles that review the past 25 years or depict the current properties of public policy and management. click here for more information http://www.cipfa.org.uk/pt/pmm_2005.cfm.

Panel Website Relaunched

New CETC prize honours memory of senior CIPFA member

CIPFA student Simon Perks has been awarded the John Sandbach Memorial Prize for his excellent examination results in the CIPFA Professional Accountancy Qualification (PAQ). The new prize has been established
by the Governing Body of the CIPFA Education & Training Centre (CETC) to honour the memory of its former Chairman, John Sandbach, who died in 2003.

The John Sandbach Memorial Prize recognises the CETC student with the highest grades at the PAQ's Diploma level (formerly known as Professional 2 level). Simon Perks, the first ever winner, was delighted with the award of a trophy and a cheque: "I was happy just to pass these exams", he said, "so winning a prize was a shock and an amazing bonus".

Gary Gilbert, Head of the CIPFA Education & Training Centre, said: "Simon is an excellent student and a deserving winner of the John Sandbach Memorial Prize. We believe John would have been proud to
have his name attached to an award like this, so it's a fitting way to keep his memory alive."

IPF launches new website for property professionals www.ipfproperty.net has been launched by IPF as the new one-stop source of information for all public sector property professionals. The new site provides a comprehensive range of property management support services including advice and guidance on the latest statutory requirements and a job search facility for asset management and property related vacancies. New training available on local government trading and charging The Local Government Act 2003 has given councils new trading and charging powers that have wide ranging implications for them. IPF have developed a new training course to help local authorities understand their powers and duties to trade and charge for services. The course is aimed at finance and procurement staff and anyone involved with or interested in trading or charging activities in a local authority. The one day training course as part of the 4ps/ IDeA Procurement Training modules also attracts ODPM/ LGA Capacity Building Fund subsidy. Training sessions will take place in London on 24 May, 1 June and 18 June. For more information contact Jason Cole on 080 8667 8511 or Jason.cole@ipf.co.uk. European Commission Internal Audit Service During 2003 IPF, on behalf of CIPFA, undertook an external quality review of the European Commission Internal Audit Service (IAS). The objective of this review was to appraise and express an opinion as to the IAS’s compliance with standards for the professional practice of internal auditing and to make recommendations that might improve compliance with these standards or that might enhance internal audit operational effectiveness. The Commission reforms, have made substantial changes by devolving responsibility for financial control to the Director-General and introducing an internal audit service headed by a person of Director-General status. They have resulted in a considerable tightening of effective control over those activities for which the Commission has a direct responsibility. The review suggested changes to improve the operation of internal audit within the Commission. The main recommendations were designed to integrate internal audit more effectively into the management processes within the Commission at all operational levels.

Half day technical surgery – FRS17 for local authorities Manchester 19 May, York 20 May, London 21 May In response to frequent requests the CIPFA Finance Advisory Network (FAN) will be delivering an additional series of half-day events that will focus on the financial management implications of the introduction of the FRS17 adjustments into local authority accounts. For more information visit: www.ipf.co.uk/bestvalue/BVQ/FAN/Events/ techsurgery0504.htm CIPFA Better Governance Forum major two-day conference Thursday 28 & Friday 29 October; Hilton Metropole, Brighton The CIPFA Better Governance Forum is organising its first major conference that will be covering its four key streams Risk management, Counter fraud, Ethical standards and Data protection and freedom of information in October. It will include a gala dinner on the Thursday evening and break out sessions as an alternative to the main conference session. Other forthcoming CIPFA Better Governance Forum events Freedom of information – preparing for the right of access workshops May; London, York and Birmingham Embedding risk management – completing the corporate picture 18 May – York; 9 June – Edinburgh; 20 July – Chester The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 2 June, London Investigative Interviewing 8 & 9 June, London You've got e-mail. A legal guide to e-mail and the internet at work 1 September, London Training the Risk manager 21 – 23 September, London, three day seminar with interactive workshop Introduction to business risk management workshops 27 September, London Employment law and investigations 20 & 21 October, London A day in court – courtroom training and statement writing 23 & 24 November, Peterborough For more information about the CIPFA Better Governance Forum visit: www.ipf.co.uk/Governance

CIPFA Introduction to Police Finance 25 May, London More... The Finance Manager and Technology Challenge 25 May 2004 London More... The CIPFA Local Authority Capital Conference 2004: The Prudential Code 27 May, London More... NHS Finance: Practical Steps to Financial Recovery - Good Practice in Action 4 June, London More... CIPFA Developments in Central Government Finance - Focus on Efficiency 10 June, London More... CIPFA in Wales: The Prudential Code for Capital Finance and the Treasury Management Code of Practice 24 June 2004 Cardiff More... CIPFA/ISACA IT Audit Seminar 2004 29-30 June, Birmingham More... CIPFA Local Authority Accounting: SORP 2004 and BVACOP 29 June 2004 York More... CIPFA Local Authority Accounting: SORP 2004 and BVACOP 07 July 2004 London More... The CIPFA Local Government Finance for Councillors Seminar 14 July, London More...		Councillors’ Guide to Local Government Finance 2004 Fully Revised Edition - BOOK (2004) (Due end of May) More... Guide to the Formula Spending Shares 2004-2005 More... The CIPFA FM Model: Improving Financial Management and Effectiveness in the Public Service More... An Introductory Guide to Housing Finance in England 2004 (Fully Revised Second Edition) More... A Good Practice Guide to the Financial Management of Housing Benefit in England 2004 (Fully Revised Second Edition) More... Further Education Finance Manual (Fully Revised Second Edition) More...
New CIPFA Shop E-newsletter If you would like to receive detailed information about CIPFA's forthcoming events and publications, as well as recently published titles, why not subscribe to the new courses, conferences and publications e-newsletter? The second issue, which was distributed in April, is now available online: http://www.cipfa.org.uk/newsletters/shop/shopnews_apr04.htm Published quarterly, this e-newsletter is free of charge and delivered direct to your pc. If you would like to subscribe, please complete the online form at http://www.cipfa.org.uk/shop_subscribe.cfm.

Training and Conference Centre Rooms for Hire 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.cfm 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.

Out and About The President and Chief Executive will attend the CIPFA Scottish Branch Annual Dinner and AGM ON 21/22 May in Glasgow. The President will also attend the Channel Islands Branch dinner in Jersey on 29 May. The Chief Executive has been invited to give a presentation on Public Sector Financial Reform at the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Conference on 5th June in South Africa which is being hosted by the Public Financial Services Agency (PFSA) and the University of Fort Hare.

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