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  • Association of Hampshire and Isle of Wight  Local Authorities
    - represents 14 local authorities serving a population  of 1.5 million people. Its objectives are: to provide a means for facilitating  co-operation between the constituent authorities, promote the interests of local  government in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, assist member authorities in the  effective performance of their duties and functions and to pursue issues of  common concern to member authorities and to represent their joint interests to  other bodies.
  • Association of In-plant  Printers
    - AIM is the only professional association for Local Government  officers who are Managers of Printing Units, Copying and Document Centres within  Local Authorities throughout England, Scotland and Wales.
  • Association of Local Authority Business  Consultants (ALABC)
    - a 'not for profit' organisation open to Business  Consultants who are principally employed in Local Government. Its purpose is to  keep members up to date with trends and developments which affect their work, to  provide a forum for the exchange of expertise and experience, and to raise the  profile of consultancy within the local government sector.
  • Association for Public Service  Excellence
    - APSE was formed in the early 1980's in response to the 1980  Planning and Land Act and was expanded to deal with the extension of CCT in the  1988 Local Government Act and again when white collar services were subjected to  CCT. With the demise of CCT, APSE has now refocused itself around Best Value  issues; it has some 255 members.

 

  • Best Value  Community.com
    - "The purpose of the BestValueCommunity site is to  consolidate on one web site a unique set of online resources to help Local  Government officers work more effectively and improve the operational  performance of their organisation. The offerings were designed to help Local  Government Officers in the UK to comply with many of the government's directives  regarding Best Value and incorporate ebusiness into their operations."

 

  • Cambridgeshire  Association of Local Councils (CALC)
    - CALC helps its member Town and  Parish Councils and Parish Meetings to carry out their role by providing legal  and procedural advice on a day to day basis.
  • Care Direct
    - new service  being developed by the Department of Health in partnership with some local  councils for people aged 60 years and older and their carers and relatives. Its  aim is to make it easier for older people to get information and help when they  need it.
  • Convention of Scottish Local Authorities  (COSLA)
    - COSLA exists to promote and protect the interests of councils  in Scotland by providing a forum for discussion of matters of common concern.

 

 

  • e-Government Bulletin
    - email  service covering electronic public services, 'teledemocracy' and the information  society in the UK and worldwide. The Bulletin is a free, independent  publication, aimed at everyone in government, local government, the social  sector and their private sector partners.
  • East of England Local Government  Conference
    - provides information of the role, functions and objectives  of the EELGC on behalf of the local authorities in the East of England.
  • Employers Organisation for Local  Government
    - EO is one half of what used to be the LGMB. It will conduct  pay negotiations; give employment advice: advise on topical personnel issues,  such as European law; promote the interests of local authorities on pensions;  undertake surveys; provide equality advice; and work closely with a wide range  of partners on employer's issues
  • Exchanging Information with the  Public
    - this web-site offers information about the work of the EIP Group  - a collaboration between UK local councils - moderated by CDW & Associates  Ltd. The EIP Group is dedicated to understanding the practical issues of making  public services more accessible by the community - information management,  organisational development, and the appropriate use of information and  communications technologies benchmarking - a valuable route to researching and  sharing best practice developing collaborative projects which further the aim of  'best value' for the public. integrating this body of work with relevant  'Information Society' initiatives.

 

  • Facilitating Inclusion in the North East  (FINE)
    - the website of FINE - the North East SEN Regional Partnership.  FINE brings together twelve Local Education Authorities in the North East of  England with the aim of developing more effective inclusive educational  practices. The project operates with collaboration from stakeholders in the  Health, Social Services, Voluntary and Independent Sectors.
  • Foundation for Information Technology in  Local Government (FITLOG)
    - an independent non-profit-making body. Their  aim is to help senior policy and decision makers in UK local government  understand how information technology can contribute to developing more  effective local democracy and service delivery.

 

  • Highlands & Islands Partnership  Programme (HIPP)
    - Access to a wide range of information on the Highlands  & Islands Special Transitional Programme, which brings around £200 million  of European funding which, together with public and private resources, supports  a £500 million programme to be invested over the next 6 or 7 years for the  benefit of people in the area.

 

  • Improvement and Development Agency  (IDeA)
    - IDeA is the other half of what used to be the LGMB, and conducts  peer group review of local authorities through the Local Government Improvement  Programme, administers the government's beacon services scheme and publicises  good practice. It will continue and greatly expand the areas of learning and  development for councillors, managers and staff, previously undertaken by the  LGMB.
    • From e-government to  e-transformation
      - details of how the IDeA is supporting transformation  in local government through innovation, along with some useful resources and  information to help authorities through the process.

  • Information for Local  Government
    - This site is run by 5 central government departments and  provides the first, online, one-stop gateway for local authorities to get quick  and easy access to local government-related information that is published on the  web sites of central government departments and agencies.
  • Institute for Public Policy  Research
    - The leading UK independent think tank on the centre left.
  • Institute of Trading Standards  Administration
    - This site provides a wealth of information for consumers  and businesses, schools, advice and information centres, community  organisations, local councils, business support agencies and trade associations.

 

  • Joint Strategic Planning and  Transportation Unit
    - The Joint Strategic Planning and Transportation  Unit (JSPTU) prepares the Joint Replacement Structure Plan on behalf of the  Joint Strategic Planning and Transportation Committee, it also supports the  Committee and advises the Committee on strategic transport issues.
  • The Joint Strategic Planning and Transportation Committee is a joint  committee of the four councils of Bath & North East Somerset Council,  Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council and South Gloucestershire Council.  It is responsible for, amongst other things, preparation of the Joint  Replacement Structure Plan.

  • Jobs go public
    - Jobs go  public is one of the the UK's premier sites for Public Sector Jobs including  Local Government vacancies.

 

  • LEAP (Life Events Access Project)
    -  a £2million project of which £1.2m is government money from the Invest to Save  programme. It is a partnership project between a group of Councils. LEAP aims to  utilise knowledge management in order to improve service provision to customers.
  • Local Authorities coordinating Body on Food  and Trading Standards
    - LACOTS is a UK local government enforcement  coordinating body giving advice, guidance and information on consumer  protection, trading standards, food safety and composition and regulatory best  practice.
  • LGOL Pathfinders
    - This  site is intended to help disseminate information to local governement authorites  on the 25 Local Government Online Pathfinder Projects established by the DTLR in  Spring 2001.
  • Local Authorities Research and  Intelligence Association
    - LARIA was established in 1974 to promote the  further development and understanding of research practices in local government.
  • Local Government Association
    - A  new organisation to represent local authorities in England and Wales, launched  in April 1997
  • Local Government Chronicle
    - LGC  publish a number of magazines; their website provides a range of subscription  services and election information.
  • Local Government Commission for England  (LGCE)
    - Independent body set up by Parliament to review and make  recommendations on whether there should be changes to the structure of local  government, the boundaries of individual local authority areas, and their  electoral arrangements.
  • Local Government Data Unit  Wales
    - The purpose of this unit is to meet the data needs of local and  central government in Wales by ensuring that they are better informed about the  characteristics of the services and activities of local authorities and of the  environment in which they operate.
  • Local Government Boundary Commission  for Wales
    - Established in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972.Its  role is to keep under review all local government areas in Wales, and the  electoral arrangements for the principal areas, and to make such proposals to  the National Assembly for Wales as seem desirable in the interests of effective  and convenient local government.
  • Local Government Information Unit
    -  The LGIU provides an information, lobbying, publicity and policy service to  assist its affiliates in meeting its aims. It also provides a forum for  discussion between council politicians, officers and trade unions; and develops  networks to pursue issues of common concern with the voluntary sector and other  organisations.
  • Local Government International  Bureau
    - British Section of the Council of  European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR).
  • Local Government Management Board
    -  The LGMB has, as of 1st April 1999, been redesigned as two new organisations -  the Improvement and Development Agency  (IDeA) and the Employers  Organisation (EO)
  • Local Government National Training  Organisation: Smarter Partnerships
    - The purpose of the site is to help  users improve partnership skills and performance. It is designed to be widely  relevant across areas of partnership working.
  • Local Government News
    - Established  21 years ago for the senior technical and professional officer in local  government, Local Government News regularly carries a wide range of informative  articles and features.
  • Local Government Ombudsman
    - The  Local Government Ombudsmen investigate complaints of injustice arising from  maladministration by local authorities and certain other bodies.
  • Local Government Staff Commission for  Northern Ireland
    - Established under the Local Government Act (NI) 1972  for the purpose of exercising general oversight of matters connected with the  recruitment, training and terms and conditions of employment of officers of  district councils, and of making recommendations to councils on such matters.
  • LGjobs
    - LGjobs is the Improvement and Development Agency's  recruitment website for Local Government jobs throughout the country.
  • Local Business  Partnerships
    - website aimed at helping local councils work with small  businesses and cut down red tape.
  • Local Housing Strategy Guidance  (Scotland)
    - Draft guidance on preparing Local Housing Strategies. The  Housing (Scotland) Act will make it a requirement for local authorities to make  a comprehensive assessment of housing needs and conditions, and to produce  strategies to tackle the housing problems in their areas. his draft guidance has  been prepared primarily for local authorities, but will also be of interest to  those who will be working with councils in the preparing strategies such as  Registered Social Landlords, the private sector, public and voluntary sector  agencies and local communities.
  • London Connects
    - London  Connects is a new public sector partnership to lead the development of  electronic and public services across the capital city. It will build confidence  in the development of the information society, respecting the laws, traditions  and languages of London’s diverse communities, whilst nurturing democratic  participation, freedom of speech and privacy in the practice of electronic  government.
  • London Research Centre
    -  London's leading provider of information, research, analysis and consultancy,  recognised for its impartiality, and serving all 33 London local authorities

 

  • National Anti Fraud Network  (NAFN)
    - NAFN deals with all types of local authority fraud, including  Housing Benefits, Student Awards, Trading Standards, grant applications, false  invoicing and internal investigations. Since its formation, NAFN has helped  councils identify numerous frauds which have resulted in considerable savings to  the taxpayer. Currently, approximately 230 Local Authorities in England and  Wales are fully paid up members of NAFN.
  • National Association of Local  Councils
    - NALC represents some 10,000 town, parish and community  councils across England and Wales. It is the leading organisation tasked with  protecting the rights and representing the interests of these councils.
  • New Local Government Network
    - A  (free) membership organisation promoting modernisation in UK local government.

 

  • OGC Energy
    - offer expertise  in the procurement of gas, electricity, liquid fuels and associated services for  public sector customers.

 

  • Parliamentary Monitoring and Intelligence  Service (PAMIS)
    - The LGA's Parliamentary Monitoring and Intelligence  Service is a specialist intelligence service which builds upon the unique  position of the LGA in national and local government and provides coverage of  all aspects of government and political affairs.
  • Planning Officers'  Society
    - The Planning Officers' Society web site provides information  about the Good Practice Guide & relevant links.
  • Public Finance
    -  Business magazine for the public sector.
  • publicsector.org
    - the staff  benefits site for public sector employees. Launched at the SOCPO conference in  March 2000, they offer a free service to all local government employees giving  discounts on a wide range of conventional and fairly traded goods and services.

 

  • Scottish Council for Research in  Education
    - SCRE has lots of useful info on its site for policymakers as  well as schools. Includes press releases and short texts.
  • Scottish Local Government Information  Unit
    - The Scottish Local Government Information Unit (SLGIU) was  established in 1984 as a local authority Joint Committee, to provide information  and research services for Scottish local authorities and local authority trade  unions.
  • Signposts to Government from Kable  Ltd
    - focuses on information age government, with news and views on policy  and business issues related to electronic era government. This an editorially  independent news based site, updated weekly and access is free.
  • Smarter Partnerships
    -  launched by The Local Government National Training Organisation (LGNTO) it  features: interactive tools to help work through partnership issues and develop  skills for partnership working, case studies and resources to help users learn  and make a difference on the ground.
  • Society of County Treasurers
    -  The Society of County Treasurers is primarily a forum for the discussion of  financial, management, personnel and other matters affecting local government  generally, and English County Councils in particular.
  • Society of Local Council Clerks
    - The  Society exists to promote the professional standing and knowledge of its members  throughout England and Wales.
  • Society of Public Information  Networks
    - SPIN is an association linking public and private sector  organisations involved in, or wishing to become involved in, the electronic  dissemination of public information.
  • Society of IT Management
    - SOCITM  's primary objective is to promote the effective and efficient use of IT in  Local Government and the Public Sector.
  • Society of Chief Officers of Trading  Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS)
    - SCOTSS is the Society of Chief Officers  of Trading Standards in Scotland, an association of professional officers  representing every Scottish local authority trading standards service.
  • The Society liaises with LACOTS and  provides advisers to CoSLA on Scottish  matters. It has it's own constitution but is also a section of the Trading Standards Institute  (TSI). The Society meets four times a year with the express objective of  properly co-ordinating the enforcement activities of discrete trading standards  services across the country.

  • SOLACE
    - The representative body  for senior strategic managers working in local government. The Society promotes  effective local government and provides professional development for its  members.
  • South West Regional  Assembly
    - Voluntary grouping of councillors from local authorities in  the region and representatives of various sectors with a role in the region's  economic, social and environmental well being. Together with the seven other  regional chambers in England, the South West Regional Assembly has been given a  specific role by the Government to scrutinise and monitor the work of the  appropriate Regional Development Agency. In the South West, the Assembly also  acts as the Regional Planning Body for the region.
  • Syniad - the Improvement,  Development and Employers' Agency for Local Government in Wales.

 

 

 

  • Wales Wide Web
    - a  wide range of information, including useful contact names, addresses and phone  numbers for the Welsh local authorities.
  • West Midlands Local Government  Association
    - a website which aims to provide a guide to the work of the  Association, the WMLGA Committees and their partner organisations. Furthermore,  they hope that the site will assist to increase networking opportunities around  the West Midlands region.