Accountability and Transparency
One area of concern among public administrators is the possible loss of public accountability as a result of contracting, particularly as a result of claims of 'commercial confidentiality'. This section deals with these issues, including scrutiny by legislators and public sector auditors, the application of freedom of information laws, the potential use of administrative law (or judicial review) and the increased transparency that comes from robust performance regimes.
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Public Sector Performance: Efficiency or Quality? Micheli, Pietro; Mason, Steve; Kennerley, Mike, 2006 Centre for Business Performance, Cranfield School of Management UK
Driving Improvement: A New Performance Framework For Localities (PDF) Improvement and Development Agency, 2006 Local Government Association LGA and IDeA proposals for a new framework drawing on a wide range of improvement levers available UK
Effective Public Scrutiny in Multi-level Governance Corry, Dan; Martin, Jane, 2005 The Centre for Public Scrutiny UK
Establishing The Principles Consultation: Measuring Performance in our Public Services (PDF) Dunnell, Karen; Smith, Peter, 2005 UK Centre for the Measurement of Government Activity A response to the Tony Atkinson's review of the Measurement of Government Output and Productivity for the National Accounts (January 2005) UK
Beyond Competence: Driving Local Government Improvement (PDF) The Tavistock Institute, 2005 Local Government Association A report produced for the Local Government Association by The Tavistock Institute and the Local Government Centre, Warwick Business School UK
Beyond Competence: Driving Local Government Improvement - Policy Paper (PDF) The Tavistock Institute, 2005 The Local Government Association A policy paper produced for the Local Government Association by the Tavistock Institute And the Local Government Centre, Warwick Business School ISBN 1 84049 501 4 UK
To the Point: A Blueprint for Good Targets The Social Market Foundation, 2005 Report of the Social Market Foundation Commission on the Use of Targets in Public Services
Driving improvement and value for money (PDF) Audit Commission, 2005 UK
Better government services: Executive agencies in the 21st century (PDF) H M Treasury; The Prime Minister's Office of Public Services Reform, 2002 The Agency policy review - report and recommendations UK
Openness Survey Paper Gosling, Tim, 2004 Institute for Public Policy Research UK
Public Accountability in Practice - The Need for Public Scrutiny Martin, Jane, 2004 The Centre for Public Scrutiny ISBN 1 84508 003 3 UK
Opening it up: accountability and partnerships Maltby, Paul, 2004 Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) Draft IPPR Policy Paper UK
3 Steps Forward, 2 Steps Back: Reforming PPP Policy Gosling, Tim, 2004 Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) ISBN 1 86030 238 6 UK
All Aboard - Improving Public Service Accountability (Web Page)
Learn, David, 2002
Social Market Foundation (SMF)
This paper takes a case study approach to public service governance. It argues that organisations engaged in public service delivery must establish advisory boards of stakeholders to maintain support and public confidence. The full report can be downloaded via this web page link.