HC Deb 13 November 2001 vol 374 cc624-6W
Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) if he will place in the Library all(a) guidance and (b) other documentation

(i)published and (ii) otherwise distributed by the local government modernisation team with respect to ethics in local government; [14545]

(2) if he will place in the Library all (a) guidance and (b) other documentation (i) published and (ii) otherwise distributed to local authorities by the local government modernisation team with respect to the environment.[14557]

Mr. Byers

The purpose of the local government modernisation team is to help to communicate and explain to council members and employees the Government's agenda for the modernisation of local government, and to feed back council's views and experiences to Ministers and Departments.

The role of the members of the team is therefore to contribute their operational knowledge to guidance or other publications prepared by the Department. Examples include contributing to Government Guidance on New Council Constitutions and on Referendums under the Local Government Act 2000 and working with the Improvement and Development Agency in developing their ethical governance audit for local authorities. The remit of the local government modernisation team is primarily in relation to the modernisation of local government and not specifically on environmental issues.

Copies of such Government guidance and documentation are placed in the Library in the usual manner.

Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what are the criteria by which members of the local government modernisation team were selected. [14554]

Mr. Byers

To ensure members of the local government modernisation team were recruited on an open basis, consistent with guidelines from the Civil Service Commissioners, advertisements for posts were placed in both the national and local government press. Applications were sought from people withSenior local government experience; the ability to command credibility and respect of members and senior officers; knowledge of the (local government) modernisation agenda, with experience or expertise in one or more key areas; excellent communication and presentation skills, and good team players.

A panel including civil servants from my Department and an independent member from the Local Government Association interviewed the applicants and decided the appointments to be made.

Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions who are the members of the local government modernisation team; and what are their relevant(a) experience and (b) qualifications. [14550]

Mr. Byers

Current members of the local government modernisation team areAvril Atkinson, former Director of Pupils and Services Division, East Sussex CC Chris Haynes, former Head of Information Age Government, Knowsley Richard 0llin. former Chief Executive, Stroud DC Guy Ware, former Director of Finance and Information Services, LB Enfield Janice Morphet, former Chief Executive, Rutland Julian Bowrey, former Head of Policy and Review, Cambridgeshire CC John Haward, former Head of Corporate Strategy, Southwark LB Mike Reardon, former Council Secretary, Trafford MBC Pam Fox, former Assistant Chief Executive, Portsmouth City Peter Murphy, former Chief Executive, Melton BC Rita Petty, former Executive Director, Kirklees MBC.

All members of the team have been recruited on the basis of ability, qualifications and suitability for the work as a result of an open competition held in line with guidelines set out by the Civil Service Commissioners.

Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what is the cost of(a) the establishment of the local government modernisation team and (b) its continuing operating costs. [14555]

Mr. Byers

The local government modernisation team was set up with an annual budget of £1 million which included the cost of establishing the team in the autumn of 1999. This was increased to £1.5 million in 2000–01 to cover new roles, in particular local government on-line.

Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what remuneration and superannuation is paid to members of the local government modernisation team. [14556]

Mr. Byers

Members of the local government modernisation team have been appointed on a mixture of short-term secondments or fixed-term contracts, usually of one to two years (full and part-time). Most members are senior civil service equivalents. Remuneration is based on salary before joining the team, and is currently in the range from £45,000 to £80,000 per annum. Members have the option of remaining in the local government pension scheme or joining the principle civil service pension scheme when they join the Department.

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