Top Award for AAT President

Mike Dudding, CIPFA member and President of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), has received a 2002 Governor Award for his work with the Wildernesse School in Sevenoaks, Kent.

Mike has been a governor at the School since 1991 and chairman of finance for seven years. He took part in an early pilot for the local management scheme, when schools were first given delegation for budgets. He has also delivered financial training to governors at other schools.

Mike received his award at a ceremony at Mid Kent College in Maidstone on 1 October.

/members

CIPFA in Wales - Office Update

The CIPFA in Wales office opened for business on 2 September 2002. Maria Jones’s remit as Manager is to strengthen the Institute's focus in Cardiff, one of the newly developed centres of government, and to increase and lead CIPFA's activities in Wales.

To assist Maria, a group of volunteers in Wales has been meeting on a periodic basis to consider a new governance structure for Wales. There will be an opportunity to assist in shaping this structure, in early November, when proposals for the Constitution of the CIPFA in Wales Forum will be published for consultation on the website.

If you would like to contribute in any way, please email maria.jones@cipfa.org or telephone 01267 223442.

CIPFA in Wales Annual Conference
26 November, Cardiff

Chaired by the President, Roger Tabor, CIPFA's Annual Conference for Wales will span the full breadth of the public services. Speakers include:

• NHS Wales - Health & Social Care Issues
  Jane Hutt, Minister for Health & Social Services, National Assembly for Wales

• Supporting People in Wales
  Paul Webb, National Assembly for Wales

• Partnerships to Improve Local Services
  Sandy Blair, Chief Executive, Welsh Local Government Association

• Transport in Wales
  Robin Shaw, Transport Director, The Transport Directorate, National Assembly for Wales

Book this conference

Northern Ireland Conference
24/25 October, Newcastle

The theme of this year's Northern Ireland Annual Conference, which takes place in the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle, is 'Devolution: Delivering the Difference'. Leading speakers include:

• Sean Farren, Minister of Finance and Personnel

• Graham Gudgin, Former Adviser to the First Minister

• Barrie Woodcock, Managing Director, RBW Associates

• Sir Ronnie Flanagan OBE, HM Inspector of Constabulary

• Mike Morrisey, Director, Urban Institute, University of Ulster

Programme details and an online booking form are available at:
/regions/ni/events.cfm.

Entries invited for the Public Finance
Public Servants of the Year Awards 2003

The Public Finance Public Servants of the Year Awards scheme, supported by the Cabinet Office, the Office of Government Commerce and, of course, CIPFA has been launched for 2003 - its third year - and entries are now being invited.

The deadline for entries is 30 November 2002.

Think of someone you admire and nominate them online by visiting the Awards website: http://www.publicservants.org.uk.

Standards of Professional Practice

On 12 September, CIPFA Council approved new and revised Standards of Professional Practice for CIPFA members, students and diplomates.

The standards complement the CIPFA Standard of Professional Practice on Ethics issued in 2000 and will be distributed to all CIPFA members, students and diplomates later this year.

View the new standards at:
/pt/standards.cfm.

Financial Control and Budgeting
for NHS Partnerships

CIPFA is developing guidance to help NHS finance practitioners when they enter into partnerships in pursuit of the NHS modernisation agenda.

The Health Panel plans to publish the guidance in early 2003.

If any member has comments or views on this subject please contact terry.brodie@cipfa.org.

/panels/health/index.cfm

Audit and Pensions Panels'
Discussion Forums

Online discussion forums have been added to the Audit and Pensions Panels' websites. The forums are free and easy to join, and offer a platform for practitioners to share best practice and bring emerging issues to the attention of the panel on a timely basis.

Visit the discussion forums at:
/panels/fora.

Reserves and Balances
- Revised Guidance for Local Authorities

CIPFA is seeking comments on its revised and updated guidance on the treatment of reserves and balances. There have been significant developments since this area was last reviewed in 1995 when an occasional paper on the subject was issued. An update was therefore considered appropriate.

Further details and the consultation paper can be viewed at: /pt/
search_details.cfm?news_id=13910.

Social Services Panel -
Seeking Volunteers

In order to improve representation, the Social Services Panel is seeking two volunteers, one from Northern Ireland and one from Wales. Any CIPFA member who is interested in volunteering please contact terry.brodie@cipfa.org.

/panels/
social_services/index.cfm

Cliff Nicholson Award

The CIPFA Audit Panel would like to invite entries for the 2003 Cliff Nicholson Award for innovation and excellence in public sector audit.

Entry is open to any public sector audit team, provided one member of the audit team who did the work is a CIPFA member or student member. Entry forms and further information can be found on the Audit Panel website:

/panels/audit/.

Good News for Northern Ireland Students

Added value courses will soon be starting up again in Northern Ireland. The E&T Commissioning team have been working with CIPFA/IPF Northern Ireland and Business Steps Ltd to assess demand, and as a result, P1 and P2 courses will now be running locally from February/March 2003. Some support will also be arranged on an individual basis for P3.

More information will be available at the CIPFA Northern Ireland conference on 24-25 October and in the IPF/CIPFA Northern Ireland magazine. Alternatively contact Elliott Rae on 020 7543 5650 or elliott.rae@cipfa.org.

P3 Examiners Stay Informed

P3 examiners now have their own newsletter, the P3 Informer, aimed at improving communication between Robert St and volunteers and at providing a forum for sharing ideas and expertise. To find out more about the P3 Informer, contact Susan Mueller on 020 7543 5652 or susan.mueller@cipfa.org.

New P3 Project Web Section

A new section has been added to the website which is designed to benefit students who are yet to complete the P3 Project. The new area contains an overview of recent operational changes to the P3 Project. A list of prize winning projects is also available from which students may purchase individual projects of relevance to their own studies.

/eandt/current/project.cfm

Open Learning Material Orders Streamlined

The Open Learning Material order form has been redesigned to include textbooks, so students can now order both simultaneously. This change has come about as a result of our regular student surveys. We are always pleased to respond to comments and new ideas, and would like to thank everyone who has filled in a questionnaire. For more information contact andrea.leeming@cipfa.org or visit:

/eandt/current/olm_form.cfm.

Ghana Project Underway

CIPFA has validated the Institute of Accountancy Training in Ghana as a course provider. Now that this initial stage of the collaboration has been completed, we are hoping to welcome our first Ghanaian students during the next year. To learn more about the validation process, contact Ray Foley, Examinations and Overseas Manager, on 020 7543 5698 or ray.foley@cipfa.org.

IPF to Launch PLAN - a New Consultation
and Research Service for Planning Departments

IPF will be extending its current consultation and research service to include assistance to local authority planning departments. The new service, ‘PLAN’, is being developed in order to assist local authorities with new regulations expected from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM). For more information about ‘PLAN’ email Jill.whitehead@ipf.co.uk or telephone 020 8667 1144.

Update on the Work of CIPFA International

CIPFA International is a specialist consultancy and training service that draws on the resources of the whole CIPFA group. It provides access to a wide network of skills, expertise, advice and support to public sector organisations outside the UK.

For more information about the activities of CIPFA International, visit:

http://www.ipf.co.uk/europe/international.

CIPFA e-Government Forum Supports
EU Research into Teleworking

The CIPFA e-Government Forum, a division of IPF, is supporting European Union (EU) research into the cost benefit issues of e-office developments.

Paul Jackson, the CIPFA e-Government Manager explained "SUSTEL (SUStainable TELework) is a two year research project financed by the European Commission and conducted in the UK by academics from Bradford University. Many of their findings will be disseminated via the Forum, where they’ll feed into our ongoing discussion on the business case aspects of e-Government."

For more information visit:

http://www.ipf.co.uk/egovernment.

Out and About

The Chief Executive will address the CIPFA in
the Midlands Regional Seminar on 18 October at Warwick University on the importance of good public reporting and its links to the achievement
of effective accountability.

The President and Chief Executive will be attending the Northern Ireland Annual Conference in Newcastle, County Down on 24-25 October.

The Vice-President will be representing CIPFA
at the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants Annual Dinner on 24 October.

The Chief Executive will address the West Sussex and East Sussex Financial Officers Associations on 1 November and he will also give a keynote speech at the Kent Audit Group Conference on 'How to ensure that audit adds value in the 21st Century' on 4 November.

The President and Chief Executive will attend the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland Dinner in Dublin on 8 November.

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