CIPFA welcomes the package of legislative measures announced in today’ King’s Speech. Particularly those that will improve how public services are run, such as greater devolution and genuine transfer of powers to local areas.
Empowered local places can drive economic growth and enhance local decision making.
However, a move to more stable and longer-term financing is also needed. In the absence of urgent support, longer-term reforms are destined to fail as they arrive too late.
We would like to see the government adopt a twin-track approach of implementing reform alongside rapid measures to both recognise and address the current crisis in many public services.
We are pleased to see the commitments in the King's Speech around governance, financial reporting and audit. These are all key components of strong and effective public financial management; CIPFA looks forward to contributing to this work in our role as a standard setter and through our members’ roles in strategic leadership across the public sector.
Greater devolved decision making requires clear accountability and there are positive signs here, also. Ensuring public servants have a duty of candour enshrined in law will help restore public trust and confidence in public services. Reforms to improve audit and corporate governance were likewise one of the first announcements in the speech.
We welcome this and will work to ensure that the public sector takes this opportunity to not only play its part in delivering economic growth and better outcomes, but also improved accountability for local communities.