Local Government Minister, Nick Raynsford, has highlighted the importance of developing the skills and capacity of local government’s workforce: "Ensuring the right people are in the right place at the right time with the knowledge, skills and behaviour necessary to deliver quality services is a vital prerequisite for a successful authority and a more satisfied community."

The Minister announced a new £27m improvement fund that will help councils to deliver continuous improvement in public services. As part of this package, the Employers' Organisation for Local Government will receive extra resources to:

- double the number of places on the National Graduate Development Programme from 50 to 100;

- develop an accelerated development programme;

- develop a skills framework for all staff, and a National Management Development Programme for local government.

Charles Nolda, Executive Director of the EO welcomed the extra funding: "This is really good news and a huge vote of confidence. It demonstrates serious political interest in capacity building. People are not just ‘part of’ the improvement agenda. We have to start with workforce issues, not add them as an afterthought."

Issues such as engaging with young people, developing leaders, workforce planning and ‘creating a learning culture’ ensured lively debate during the breakout sessions, which showcased best practice and showcased the latest EO guidance and tools.

To end the event , Geoff Tierney, of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, set out the next challenge for local authorities: "Comprehensive Performance Assessment was Stage 1 of the improvement agenda. Stage 2 requires us to build the capacity of our workforce to achieve high performance and better public services."

Further details about the fund are available here.