Capital Ambition Projects
For more information on our projects, please click on the links below:
Equality Standard for Local Government (ESLG)
Excellent Project and Programme Management (EPPM)
Policy Officers' Network (PON) - Fit for Purpose Project
London Member Development Network
National Capacity Building Projects
Since its inception, Capital Ambition’s immediate focus has been on tackling current performance issues in London. However, another key element of the Capital Ambition manifesto is around the longer term challenges for London.
The Futures programme, Capital Ambition’s flagship project, will deliver important research and analysis on how London can prepare for future challenges.
Earlier this year, Capital Ambition met with a range of consultants, academic and policy institutions to discuss how the project would be delivered. Following the commissioning process, which took place over August and September, the London Collaborative were selected as Capital Ambition’s partner to deliver the programme.
The London Collaborative is a consortium led by the Young Foundation, and including the Office for Public Management and Common Purpose, with access to a wide range of other organisations and advisors including LSE, UCL, Local Futures Group, Shared Intelligence, and Forum for the Future. British Telecom is sponsoring the programme.
The first phase of network-building is well underway with nearly 200 key managers nominated from across the boroughs. A second phase, recruiting people from key agencies such as the Metropolitan Police, the NHS and housing agencies, has also started.
A range of scenarios speculating what London might look like in 2023 is being developed with sector leaders in workshops covering topics such as population growth, housing and climate change. The aim is to identify challenges and areas where London’s public sector may need to take shared responsibility for shaping the best possible future for Londoners.
The London Collaborative’s report on future challenges will be published at the official launch of the programme on 18 March. The report will provide a framework for determining the most suitable areas for collaboration and investigate the most effective ways of measuring London’s future success.
For more information on the London Collaborative, please click on the link below.
Link to London Collaborative web page
The prospectus, ‘Meeting Tomorrow’s Challenges’, sets out the aims of the project and can be found on the Publications page of the website.
Contact for this project: Brigitte Gohdes, Project Leader brigitte.gohdes@youngfoundation.org
Equality Standard for Local Government
In its first strategy, Capital Ambition set an ambitious target of 90% of London authorities reaching Level 4 of the Equality Standard for Local Government (ESLG) by the end of 2008/2009. A work porgramme was developed in order to support authorities deliver the target.
Phase 1 of the work was a piece of research and analysis, commissioned from The Office for Public Management (OPM) and published in January 2007. This revealed that a number of authorities would have difficulty reaching Level 4 and that further resources and support from senior management would be required to progress to this level. For further information and a copy of the report please visit the Progress on the Equality Standard for Local Government in London Councils report page
Following further consultation with key stakeholders, Capital Ambition commissioned Michael Bell Associates take forward Phase 2. The Advisory and Support Project was designed to provide specialist, tailored input and learning opportunities to authorities to enable them to progress more quickly and with greater assurance to Level 4 of the ESLG.
This Project dovetailed with a series of events to assist with aspects of the ESLG that authorities have identified would be of benefit to them, delivered jointly by Capital Ambition and the IDeA. Run between October 2007 and March 2008 each event combined expert input, illustrative contributions from authorities, and workshop elements focussing on practical issues. All the events were very well received, with delegates giving an evaluation rating of 4 out of 5 for each. To see the presentations from each event, please click on the links below.
Presentations from the workshops:
Presentations from 'Insights into Assessment' event on 12 October 2007
Presentations from 'Harnessing The Power: Engagement and Leadership' event on 16 November 2007
Presentations from 'Proof of the Pudding: Data and Evidence' event on 24 January 2008
Presentations from ‘Who’s It All About? Effective Community Engagement and Scrutiny’ 5 March 2008
On April 15 2008, Capital Ambition held an event to launch the report that concluded the work programme - ' No Quality Without Equality'. It sets out progress made by the authorities, projections for attainment by end 2008/2009, remaining issues and barriers and provides a series of recommendations for future work.
The evening reception was well attended, and delegates heard presentations from Daniel Ratchford of Capital Ambition, Michael Bell of Michael Bell Associates with Yasmin Alibhai-Brown (Journalist) as key-note speaker.
The final report concluded the second stage of a work programme designed to support authorities to attain higher levels of the Equality Standard for Local Government. It sets out progress made, projections for attainment by end 2008/2009, remaining issues and barriers and provides a series of recommendations for future work.
Presentations from the event:
Introduction to Capital Ambition
The work programme concluded with the ground set for the target to be attained with sustained effort on behalf of the authorities still working towards Level 4. The second Capital Ambition strategy takes forward the on-going commitment to ensuring that London remains at the forefront of this agenda by extending the ambition to authorities attaining Level 5 (or equivalent) of the ESLG by the end of 2012, and delivering a further work programme in support of this intention.
For further information on the Equality Standard for Local Government and the performance of Local Authorities in this area, please click on the link below.
Link to Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPIs) on CLG Website
Contact for this project: Suzanne Rose, Head of Stakeholder and Programme Management, suzanne.rose@londoncouncils.gov.uk
Excellent Project and Programme Management (EPPM)
A review of CPA scores earlier in the year presented a mixed picture in terms of authorities’ performance in Project and Programme Management (PPM). London authorities have since been working to improve their PPM, but had been doing so largely in isolation. A steering group from the London PPM forum put forward a bid for a London wide approach to PPM, which was approved by the Capital Ambition Partnership Board on 21 May.
A Programme Board has been established and Atkins Consulting has been commissioned to deliver the EPPM work programme, which is already underway.
A survey was sent to all participating organisations involved in the programme and results were received on 5 November. Over 75% of the organisations involved responded to the survey, providing valuable feedback and showing strong enthusiasm for the development of project and programme management across London. A report on the results of the survey is available below.
The London Borough of Greenwich hosted an engagement event at Charlton Athletic Football Club on 8 November for senior and key contacts to increase buy-in to the programme at senior level and to provide feedback on the results of the EPPM Survey. This event was also well received and well attended, with 95% of attendees stating that the event provided them with a good understanding of the EPPM programme. Documents from this event can be found below.
London EPPM Programme Case Studies (397kb)
Capital Ambition Presentation (123kb)
The EPPM Programme Board submitted a follow up report to the Capital Ambition Partnership Board in January 2008, providing an outline of the work carried out to date and the benefits and outputs of the programme. The recommendations in the report were approved by the Board and funding has now been released to continue the next phase of the programme. This will include work to develop a programme management approach, piloting of coaching for senior staff and the procurement of a new London-wide framework contract for project and programme management training. There will also be provision for the recruitment of a part time programme manager to take the work programme forward.
Please click on the link below to access agenda papers from the Capital Ambition Partnership Board meeting on 21 January 2008, which include the EPPM report (Item 8).
Link to Capital Ambition Partnership Board papers - 21 January 2008
For early reports and information on this project, please click on the links below.
Approval for EPPM in London (214kb)
Project Lead: Tim Ellis tim.ellis@rbkc.gov.uk
Policy Officers' Network - 'Fit for Purpose' Project
The Policy network was formed in 2003 as a means of improving the exchange of learning and best practice amongst London Borough Policy functions. It has been particularly active in developments such as the CPA and emerging Local Government White Paper and Bill (now Act). Increasingly it has been recognised by London Councils as a valuable means of analysing and developing responses on the implications of such changes for individual London authorities and for London as a whole. It received capacity building funding to develop an analysis and response to the performance and inspection framework aspects of the emerging White Paper. More recently it has been recognised as a valuable sounding board for the Capital Ambition Performance Office. Equally, top-level representatives from DCLG, NLGN, LGA and the Audit Commission have attended to outline and consult on relevant aspects of their work.
The Network is delivering a project titled The "Fit for Purpose" Policy Function to Support a "Place-Shaping" London Borough, which aims to examine the changing role of London Policy functions up to 2010 and beyond and identify any future role changes that may be needed.
Further information on the project can be found by clicking on the links below.
Agenda Paper from Capital Ambition Board Meeting 26 Nov 07 (16kb)
Policy Officers' Network - "Fit for Purpose" Project Update (353kb)
Network Contact: Kris Hibbert, Member Development Manager, kris.hibbert@londoncouncils.gov.uk.
Capital Ambition has funded a programme, which includes a series of learning events, to strengthen Scrutiny across the capital. This programme is being delivered through the London Scrutiny Network. The Network brings together Members and officers involved in Overview & Scrutiny across London local authorities and the GLA. It aims to:
- Enable London authorities to share best practice and discuss solutions to common problems
- Raise the profile of Overview & Scrutiny
- Discuss developments and their implications for Overview & Scrutiny
- Identify issues of joint concern and discuss methods for scrutinising these.
On 19 November the Network hosted a reception at London Councils to celebrate its re-launch and set out its future plans. The event was well attended, with 22 London authorities represented. Further information on this event can be found on the link below.
A second event, Councillor Call for Action and the New Legislation, took place on Friday 14 December and was also well attended. Please click on the press release below for further information.
Link to Councillor Call for Action event press release
The next event, Raising the Profile of Scrutiny through Budget Scrutiny, will take place on 28 February 2008. The London Borough of Hounslow will lead the event, sharing their experiences of budget scrutiny and contrasting their approaches with other authorities. To register for this event, or for more information, please click on the event flyer, programme and registration form.
Budget Scrutiny Event Flyer (56kb)
Budget Scrutiny Event Programme (54kb)
Budget Scrutiny Event Booking Form (110kb)
Information on the remaining scrutiny events in the series and further information on the London Scrutiny Network can be found by clicking on the links below.
Link to London Scrutiny Network Webpage
Earlier papers relating to the London Scrutiny Network can be found on the link below.
London Scrutiny Network Bid to Capital Ambition (142kb)
Network Contact: Kris Hibbert, Member Development Manager, kris.hibbert@londoncouncils.gov.uk.
London Member Development Network
The London Member Development Network (LMDN), funded by Capital Ambition, was established to assist preparations for the development of new and existing members after May 2006 elections. The Network’s aim is to kick-start boroughs’ plans for induction of new members, support, initiate and encourage a longer term approach to member development across London boroughs.
The London Member Development Network is a valuable tool for members (both new and existing) as well as for officers in other networks to:
- share information between colleagues
- give their views on the induction received and make proposals for good practice in 2006 and beyond
- offer support and advice on personal development plans, development training initiatives and constitutional issues.
For more information on the Network, including meeting dates, please click on the link below.
Link to London Member Development Network Webpage
Earlier papers relating to the London Member Development Network can be found on the links below.
Network Contact: Kris Hibbert, Member Development Manager, kris.hibbert@londoncouncils.gov.uk.
The Capital Ambition Partnership Board approved funding for the Young London Matters programme at its meeting in January 2008. The programme is led by a partnership of key stakeholders to drive forward the Every Child Matters agenda in London. Launched in 2006, its key objective is to improve partnership working across London local authorities and other key stakeholders to improve outcomes for children and young people in the capital.
Please click on the link below for a copy of the report submitted to the Capital Ambition Board.
National Capacity Building Projects
Capital Ambition now supports three main national projects: the National Graduate Development Programme; the Future Leaders Programme; and the National Councillor Mentoring Programme.
Capital Ambition will be funding places for one and two star authorities on the Future Leaders Programme, led by OPM and IDeA.
Capital Ambition is also now a key sponsor of the National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP). Capital Ambition now funds 10% of the national programme and is represented on the NGDP Steering Board.
Capital Ambition recognises the important role that the programme has in nurturing talent and producing future leaders in local government. To understand what further support was required, Capital Ambition hosted a meeting for London participants of the NGDP in May 2007. The event was well attended and the feedback from this event will continue to feed into the future development of the NGDP programme.
Contact for these projects: Daniel Ratchford, Director of Programmes daniel.ratchford@londoncouncils.gov.uk
An ICT map for London document is now availiable on the London Connects website. The purpose of this document is to:
• Assist London authorities in making decision about service improvements
• Identify joint activities which will support the Capital Ambition programme
The document has three sections:
1. Where are we now? An overview of ICT enabled services provided directly to London residents, students, businesses and visitors
2. Generic areas of collaborative opportunity
3. Pan-London projects and activities