Notes for editors 1. The formation of the Local Government Taskforce followed a letter from the Deputy Prime Minister and Sir Jeremy Beecham to local authority leaders and chief executives on 13 July 1999. Last October Ted Cantle and John Hobson wrote to local authority chief executives requesting they submit demonstration projects to the Taskforce. 42 projects have now been submitted bringing the total number of projects from local authorities to 70. The Local Government Taskforce will work with the Movement for innovation and Housing Forum to oversee the projects and disseminate the lessons learned to other local authorities.
Places are limited.
Modern approaches to construction procurement are a key to achieving Best Value as well as other corporate objectives. They are a key to delivering Best Value across a wide range of local authority services. But they require a radical change in an authority's corporate organisation and approach. And they require strong committed, determined, leadership. As we are both former local authority leaders we are well aware of the constraints and of the major changes to culture, approach and systems that will be required.