Thread by @BDavisBriz

Looking forward to hearing about the pressures on #PublicServices after the #Coronavirus pandemic & what the Chancellor could do in the #SpendingReview to help to address them #IfGLive

https://twitter.com/instituteforgov/status/1450383118951669760

First, @JeffreyMatsu gives an introduction to the Performance Tracker, and why it is important to share this data to help provide a snapshot of the state of public services & improve financial literacy across Government #IfGLive

Matsu argues that this can help to deliver on the #LevellingUp agenda as policymakers are able to make more informed decision & demonstrate the value of their decisions #IfGLive

Matsu says that well-resourced and resilient communities will be better placed to engage with government funding pots when they arise & improved data will help Govt to better respond to potential economic shocks #IfGLive

Next, @GrahamTAtkins gives an overview of the key findings of the Performance Tracker data. Notes that the tracker records GPs, Hospitals, Social Care, Neighbourhood Services, Police, Prisons & Criminal Courts #IfGLive

Atkins notes that the #Coronavirus pandemic has had a significant impact on all public services - be it online GP consultations, remote learnings for school children or the installation of more telephones in prisons #IfGLive

Atkins says this has been a mixed bag. While remote learning has embedded existing educational inequalities, patients have been more likely to attend digital consultations & reported greater satisfaction with GP services #IfGLive

The pandemic also coincided with a temporary recruitment and retention boost. In particular, Atkins said we have seen an increase in teacher training. However, the effects are declining, particularly in #SocialCare which now has a recruitment crisis #IfGLive

Turning to potential future challenges, Atkins notes that all public services are experiencing challenges & have a compelling case to deliver on #LevellingUp agenda and so could argue for more money #IfGLive

However, Atkins notes that not all public services can be improved simply by providing more money. The Government also currently has an incomplete picture on the future challenges certain services will face #IfGLive

Turning to the #SpendingReview, Atkins notes that the Chancellor has already committed great swathes of funding (eg NHS & Social Care, Schools, Defence and Overseas Aid). This means we do not have a lot of spare money to allocate to public services #IfGLive

Atkins says the Chancellor should commit to three things:

1. Publish plans alongside £ allocated to tackle backlogs
2. Evaluate new ways of working & technology
3. Expand data collection

#IfGLive

First speaker @JustineGreening gives an "insider view" of how a #SpendingReview works. As a former Minister and trained accountant, Greening says report sets out the "granular challenges", but #Inflation will also be a factor on the Chancellor's mind #IfGLive

Greening says we also need to be mindful of the politics of the funding decisions. Not only does the government have an agenda to deliver, but they also have to be aware of how these policies will affect the economic health of the country #IfGLive

Greening says the big challenge will be capacity within Whitehall, particularly HMT, to respond to the immediate short-term pressures of the #Coronavirus recovery, as well as the longer-term #LevellingUp agenda #IfGLive

Greening also says that #LevellingUp will be a social as well as economic policy. Not only is it reducing inequalities, but also how we create skilled workers, raising productivity and increasing tax revenues #LevellingUp

For other Departments, Greening says the challenges will be developing a comprehensive plan which is only partially funded. Highlights children's services as a particular policy area that has been historically underfunded #IfGLive

Greening concludes saying that the current Spending Review decision-making system is "no longer fit for purpose" if the government is serious about #LevellingUp. We must move towards a culture that invests more long-term and more into human capital #IfGLive

Next speaker, @CIPFA's Mike Driver agrees. Says that single-year Spending Reviews do not allow for long-term decision making. Says multi-year reviews will allow for greater transparency and more strategic decision-making #IfGLive

Driver also calls for greater collaborations across organisations to allow for improved systems of decision making. Highlights social justice as an example - says there is no point investing more in police if courts lack capacity #IfGLive

On decision-making, Driver says that #SpendingReviews bring together lots of data to make its decisions. Calls for an increased and improved use of that data in policymaking beyond the Spending Review #IfGLive

Next speaker @Anoosh_C reminds attendees that this #SpendingReview will affect the future of public services that are already squeezed. Says this will have an impact on lower-paid workers, who are already seeing challenges in recruitment & cut to UC uplift #IfGLive

Politically, Chakelain says this may mean that voters who have the most to gain from #LevellingUp "may not originally see the changes they voted for", which could make the decisions challenging for government #IfGLive

On #SocialCare, Chakelain repeats concerns that the Levy funds may not be sufficient to address current pressures facing the sector, and that money is needed now, rather than in several years' time #IfGLive

The webinar now moves on a Q&A Session #IfGLive

When asked about the May Government's Public Values Framework, Driver welcomes the move towards an outcomes-focused approach to public spending as it allows for clearer objectives & "shrewder management" of financial resources & data #IfGLive

Driver also says that financial experts also have a role to play, not just in "keeping score" of the public spending, but also improving financial literacy amongst policymakers #IfGLive

Greening says there is always a tension on #SpendingReviews as they are often designed "to give a Chancellor a statement to make" rather than allowing for strategic spending for each Department. Argues HMT needs to take a longer term view of cash flow to deliver value #IfGLive

Looking at the #Coronavirus pandemic, Greening says that it has had a significant impact on how people work and spend their money. Says the Govt needs to reflect this in its #SpendingReview planning #IfGLive

Next Q is on how the #SpendingReview should be used to deliver on the #LevellingUp agenda. Chakelain says empowering Local Govt & improving public services were "key plans" of agenda. Notes this is more about governance than infrastructure #IfGLive

Chakelain believes this means we are likely to see reform of public services and local government, rather than investment in infrastructure. Cites research saying most voters want place-based improvements, which requires £ #IfGLive

Chakelain also believes that changes to education, student debt reform and raising the minimum wage will also be important signifiers of the #LevellingUp agenda #IfGLive

Atkins says that the government will need to juggle the short-term pressures, such as #SocialCare along with longer-term issues such as #Education. Also believes the Govt will focus on where CV-19 has exacerbated existing inequalities, such as NHS waiting times #IfGLive

On how to move towards longer-term planning, Greening calls for a move away from 3-year funding blocks to longer-term thinking. Also calls for further #Devolution of powers to local & regional level to help deliver #LevellingUp locally #IfGLive

Greening says that the test for #Devolution would be whether or not a fund or policy would have a greater impact if it was shaped and delivered at the local level #IfGLive

Driver agrees on the need to move towards longer-term funding timeframes. Also says that Ministers need to be clearer as to what are "true" priorities (and, by extension, what is not a priority) #IfGLive

Panelists are asked about DLUHC rebrand & what this may mean for #LocalGovt funding in #SpendingReview. Atkins believes we'll see a change in local govt funding. Says while Gove seems to be a champion of Local Govt, the #SocialCare Levy hints at higher Council Tax bills #IfGLive

Chakelian says that the #Coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the financial vulnerability of many local authorities. Argues you cannot deliver a place-based #LevellingUp agenda without properly funding local authorities #IfGLive

However, Chakelian says that the run up to the #SpendingReview suggests that there will not be significant allocation of funding or powers to local authorities #IfGLive

Greening argues that the rebrand & cross-governmental focus means "all Departments are responsible for Local Govt delivery plan". Cites her time at DfE, saying that such an approach would have resulted in greater partnership working & more project management #IfGLive

Final Q is on whether all Treasury Submissions should be published ahead of Budgets to allow for greater transparency. Atkins says this would remove ability for officials to have "difficult conversations". However more data could be published on Departmental KPIs #IfGLive

Driver agrees. However, also argues that there is a lot of public data the public & media already do not use (eg accounts) which can hold Departments & Ministers to account for what they are doing #IfGLive

Chakelian says, as a journalist, "the more information we have access to, the better", so would enjoy "pouring over the figures", although recognises this may make negotiations "more informal" #IfGLive

Greening says there needs to be space for privacy, but there should be greater transparency as to why the decisions on funding being what they are - this would mean greater use of metrics or a #LevellingUp framework to allow people to judge progress & ambition #IfGLive

Interesting insights into the pressures faced by public services & how the Spending Review can help shape the #LevellingUp agenda. Thanks to @GrahamTAtkins @JeffreyMatsu @Anoosh_C @JustineGreening & Mike Driver for your insights & to @instituteforgov for hosting! #IfGLive

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