A positive agenda for public services

Taking the debate forward

Catalyst Public Services Programme 2004

Building on a number of important and influential interventions in recent debates around public service reform, Catalyst is developing a programme of research activities aimed at moving that debate forward into new positive and progressive territory.

Catalyst’s Public Services Programme will aim to facilitate and stimulate a productive and inclusive dialogue among

• individuals, organisations and communities that use on and interact with public services
• staff and professionals who work in public services, and the trade unions who represent them
• progressive researchers, analysts and commentators from academia, the media and the policy community

At the heart of this discussion will be an attempt to focus on the dynamic and multidimensional relationship between those who use public services and those who deliver them. We hope to draw from this a set of shared principles, understandings and objectives that can help shape a positive agenda for public services in the years ahead.

Our ultimate goal is to help inform and guide the process of building a broad and sustainable political and social coalition of support for

• maintaining high and increasing levels of investment in public services funded through fair and redistributive taxation
• a renewal of those services that develops the benefits of a strong public service ethos and a culture of equal and participatory social citizenship

The first stage of this project will be a series of policy seminars bringing together key representatives of the groups above to review experience and refine ideas on key topics:

• Why public services?
• Public service users: experiences and perspectives
• Public service workers: experiences and perspectives
• Responsive public services: how can users best be empowered?
• Ownership and control: how can structures affect delivery?

These seminars will feed a parallel programme of in-house research, the initial outcome of which will be presented for wider debate in autumn 2004 at a major national conference being organised with the Barry Amiel and Norman Melburn Trust, and bringing together a large participating audience of Catalyst supporters, trades unionists, civil society organisations, grass roots activists, and engaged citizens and service users.

We intend this to be an organic and increasingly inclusive process and we will at all stages welcome feedback on the above and offers of intellectual contribution.

For more information or to get involved please contact Catherine Needham by emailing [email protected] or call 020 7733 2111.