Local Government Challenge is designed to spotlight the talents of a new generation of council managers – and now you can tune into it, reports Dermott Calpin
What has been wryly described as local government’s own version of The Apprentice has been attracting viewers to a series of weekly television programmes designed to highlight the brightest and best in a new generation of council managers and policy-makers.
Policy Review TV is broadcasting a series of programmes in the 2011 Local Government Challenge, in which a group of 10 contestants take on a series of tasks designed to reflect local, national and global issues of political and public relevance – and to test their creative, communication and leadership skills.
The contestants are observed every step of the way by the television cameras, and must present their ideas and proposals to a panel of leading local government figures and partner organisations.
Already, the first four programmes have been broadcast, with the final challenge scheduled for 22 June and the final to be broadcast live at the LG Group annual conference in Birmingham on 29 June. For details see www.policyreview.tv/lgchallenge/episodes.php
The 10 contestants are competing for four places in the final where the overall winner will receive a £10,000 scholarship from the Bruce-Lockhart leadership programme, established in memory of former Kent leader and LGA chairman, Lord Bruce-Lockhart.
The scholarships was set up to promote and share fresh ideas and approaches for the public sector through exchanges between the UK, the US and Europe.
It is the second year of the contest, and Baroness Margaret Eaton, chairman of the Local Government Association, who first launched the initiative, said: ‘There is enormous ambition and potential in local government, and this competition is a great way of identifying those individuals with the drive to make it into the top positions.
‘The Local Government Challenge will highlight the ambition and quality of individuals across the country, and uncover hidden talent in our workforce. It will provide us with a great opportunity to highlight local government as an exciting and rewarding career choice.’
John Ransford, chief executive of the Local Government Group has said: ‘The extent of the challenges faced by our sector means that now, more than ever, it is important that we invest in the senior management of the future to ensure local government continues its track record of delivering excellent public services and providing a vision for local areas.
‘The Local Government Challenge is not only a chance for our 10 contestants to undertake five very diverse challenges, it is also an opportunity to showcase some of the best and brightest talent local government has to offer.
The final selection panel consists of Mr Ransford; Heather Jameson, deputy editor of The MJ; Dermot Joyce, chief executive of Liberata; Paul Carter, leader of Kent CC; and Peter Martin, leader of Essex CC.
Already, the search has begun for contestants in next year’s Local Government Challenge.
See www.lga.gov.uk/lga/core/page.do?pageId=1998335
The challenges
East Dorset DC and Christchurch BC
The two councils have joined forces under the leadership of one shared chief executive and a single strategic management team. Challenge contestants were asked to develop a ‘Culture change plan’ to support and engage staff in the transition process.
The teams worked with two local community groups which had access to pieces of unused land. One area was to be developed as a community garden, the other as a market garden to grow and sell produce. The challenge required the contestants to produce practical, usable business cases and action plans based on discussion with local people.
Department for Communities and Local Government
Greg Clark, minister for decentralisation, hosted the third challenge of the series. Contestants were asked to work on real case studies to find effective ways of addressing some of the barriers that most frequently prevent local communities from taking a more active role in local decisions and local service delivery.
Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service
The teams were asked to develop robust marketing strategies for two purpose-built community fire stations. The teams were based at the stations to help understand the product they were to market, and give them an idea of the community that they would be targeting.
Essex CC and Kent CC
The 2012 Olympic Games presents huge economic, social and environmental benefits in London and the surrounding areas. Contestants were challenged to develop a creative proposition to market the Kent and Essex Thames Gateway over the two-week period of the 2012 Olympic Games, and to propose linked opportunities for income-generation.
