TAKING PUBLIC SERVICES FORWARD IN THE EAST MIDLANDS

To the Albert Hall Conference Centre, Nottingham, this afternoon for an event hosted by East Midlands Councils and the Local Government Group. Four of us from the Regional Equality and Diversity Partnership (REDP) are attending "Taking Public Services Forward in the East Midlands".

I've come through from Leicester with Iris Lightfoote (The Race Equality Centre), Dee Martin (Leicestershire Centre for Integraqted Living) and Kelly Jussab (Project Officer, REDP).

East Midlands Councils demonstrates how local councils in the region can work together on  issues such as housing, transport and the environment. It represents the interests of local councils to Government and national organisations. It supports the improvement and development of local councils and their workforce.

The six organisations of the Local Government Group work together to support, promote and improve local government:

• Local Government Association
• Local Government Employers
• Local Government Improvement and Development
• Local Government Leadership
• Local Government Regulation
• Local Partnerships

Core Partners of REDP (and members of its more extensive Core Reference Group) are here today to listen to a presentation on the Open Public Services White Paper by Alison Adams, Policy Manager, Local Intelligence Team, Office for Civil Society, Cabinet Office. We have the chance to discuss this presentation and to raise questions from the floor.

OPEN PUBLIC SERVICES WHITE PAPER

At Leicestershire Centre for Integrated Living this morning, for a joint meeting with One East Midlands on the Open Public Services White Paper.

More than a dozen participants are here today, representing ten organisations (including Leicester Council of Faiths):

• Age UK
• Leicester Local Involvement Network (LINks)
• Leicestershire Centre for Integrated Living
• Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service
• Nottingham Inter Faith Council
• One East Midlands
• Pakistani Centre, Nottingham
• The Race Equality Centre
• Speak Up 4 Urself Children's Advocacy

This meeting is partly in preparation for an event coming up in Nottingham on Monday 19 September, a conference on "Taking Public Services Forward in the East Midlands" at which there will be a presentation on the Open Public Services White Paper. Today's session is led by Rahcel Quinn, CEO of One East Midlands, who'll be appearing on a panel at the Nottingham event.