University of Illinois at Chicago College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs International Lecture Series
“ Making Public Services Work: Lessons From the UK”

Tuesday, March 2, 2004
5:30 p.m.
A1 Lecture Center, UIC East Campus
(directly east of UIC’s Richard J. Daley Library with parking available at the Halsted Street Parking Structure, Halsted and Polk Streets, Chicago)

Dr. Wendy Thomson
Head of the Prime Minister’s Office of Public Services Reform (OPSR) in UK Central Government

In this International Public Lecture, the first she has given in the USA, Dr Thomson will outline the Blair government’s approach to public services investment and reform in the UK, and the progress made in health, education, local government and criminal justice. Extensive use has been made of target setting, performance management, focussed interventions, and inspection. The Office of Public Services Reform (OPSR) has placed particular emphasis on customer focus, and the need to improve services around four principles of: standards and accountability, devolution, flexibility, and choice.

By using practical examples and by reflecting on progress with innovation within the UK the lecture will highlight lessons for all those concerned to improve the effectiveness of public services.

At the Heart of Government:

The OPSR was established in 2001 to advise the Prime Minister and work with Government Departments on how reform of public services, including the Civil Service and local government, can be achieved. Working closely with 10 Downing Street, the rest of the Cabinet Office, Treasury, and other Government Departments, the OPSR aims to improve current structures, systems, incentives and skills to deliver better, more customer focused public services.

About Our Speaker:

Wendy Thomson has wide experience of public management having worked in local government, the voluntary sector, and audit and inspection of public services before moving to Whitehall. She was appointed as Chief Executive (read City Manager) of the London Borough of Newham in the East End of London in 1996 one of the poorest local authorities in the UK. She worked with Sir Robin Wales, the Leader of the Council, to turn the borough into a place people want to move to and, in 2000, their efforts led to Newham winning the national prize of Best Council of the Year. In 2001 Dr Thomson became the Prime Minister’s chief adviser on civil service and local government reform when she was invited to head up the Office of Public Service Reform.