This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/nov/15/jo-miller-doncaster-council-chief-executives-solace

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Jo Miller: ‘Councils can’t take more shocks to an already a shocked system’ Jo Miller: ‘Councils can’t take more shocks to an already shocked system’
(about 3 hours later)
Jo Miller, the chief executive of Doncaster council, insists that better times lie ahead for the town that was emblematic of Britain’s industrial age and whose residents, disillusioned with the broken promises of modernity, economic transition and European integration, voted overwhelmingly to leave the EU.Jo Miller, the chief executive of Doncaster council, insists that better times lie ahead for the town that was emblematic of Britain’s industrial age and whose residents, disillusioned with the broken promises of modernity, economic transition and European integration, voted overwhelmingly to leave the EU.
“We want to shape the skills system to ensure good growth, where nobody is left behind,” she says.“We want to shape the skills system to ensure good growth, where nobody is left behind,” she says.
When Miller, 48, took over at the council four years ago, it was seen as an unredeemable failure. In 2009, it was considered one of the worst-performing councils in the country and primary schools had been failing for years. The running of the council was in effect taken over by a government department and its children’s services – which had been through a long period of problems revealed in a series of damning reports – were handed over to a children’s trust. It was the first local authority to be stripped of its children’s services in this way.When Miller, 48, took over at the council four years ago, it was seen as an unredeemable failure. In 2009, it was considered one of the worst-performing councils in the country and primary schools had been failing for years. The running of the council was in effect taken over by a government department and its children’s services – which had been through a long period of problems revealed in a series of damning reports – were handed over to a children’s trust. It was the first local authority to be stripped of its children’s services in this way.
So why did Miller want the job? “I could just see the sense of possibility,” she says, fuelled by a belief that places and people can either prosper or be held back by good public services and civic leadership, and a fury about health inequality that leads to Doncaster residents dying on average 10 years earlier than people living in the more affluent south-east of England. Miller grew up on an estate in Liverpool, the daughter of a dinner lady, and believes in unlocking Doncaster’s potential by creating more and better jobs, growth in its local economy and better education for all. She claims that since getting the job, which she was determined would be hers, the turnaround has been palpable.So why did Miller want the job? “I could just see the sense of possibility,” she says, fuelled by a belief that places and people can either prosper or be held back by good public services and civic leadership, and a fury about health inequality that leads to Doncaster residents dying on average 10 years earlier than people living in the more affluent south-east of England. Miller grew up on an estate in Liverpool, the daughter of a dinner lady, and believes in unlocking Doncaster’s potential by creating more and better jobs, growth in its local economy and better education for all. She claims that since getting the job, which she was determined would be hers, the turnaround has been palpable.
The statistics bear her out. This year’s Ofsted inspections show that almost two-thirds of Doncaster schools are now good or better. In 2014, the council was released eight months early from the special measures in which it had been placed by the government. And since 2010, there has been a 41% reduction in the number of jobseekers.The statistics bear her out. This year’s Ofsted inspections show that almost two-thirds of Doncaster schools are now good or better. In 2014, the council was released eight months early from the special measures in which it had been placed by the government. And since 2010, there has been a 41% reduction in the number of jobseekers.
As for children’s services, Miller says she and the council did not think a trust was the right answer, but says they have worked to make sure the trust would get the best possible results – a view echoed by Ofsted in September, which praised Doncaster’s “significant progress” for children’s services. But Miller thinks the improvement was in spite of the trust structure, not because of it. “Yes, services to children have improved since the trust came along,” she says. “But so have all the services in the council. Children’s services haven’t improved any quicker – and the trust costs a lot more money.”As for children’s services, Miller says she and the council did not think a trust was the right answer, but says they have worked to make sure the trust would get the best possible results – a view echoed by Ofsted in September, which praised Doncaster’s “significant progress” for children’s services. But Miller thinks the improvement was in spite of the trust structure, not because of it. “Yes, services to children have improved since the trust came along,” she says. “But so have all the services in the council. Children’s services haven’t improved any quicker – and the trust costs a lot more money.”
Local government in England stands in a precarious place. Budgets have been cut by up to 40% in some areas over the past six years. “We can’t take more shocks to what is already a shocked system,” says Miller. But the way councils are funded is shifting away from direct central government grants. By 2020, councils will retain all their local business rates to fund services. This leaves places such as Doncaster heavily reliant on attracting new businesses – something Miller says is already happening.Local government in England stands in a precarious place. Budgets have been cut by up to 40% in some areas over the past six years. “We can’t take more shocks to what is already a shocked system,” says Miller. But the way councils are funded is shifting away from direct central government grants. By 2020, councils will retain all their local business rates to fund services. This leaves places such as Doncaster heavily reliant on attracting new businesses – something Miller says is already happening.
One of the two new campuses for the National College for High Speed Rail, which will train thousands of engineers in rail technology, is based in Doncaster. Those engineering jobs, Miller points out, could pay £45,000 – well above the national average salary, in an area where people have some of the lowest average wages in the country.One of the two new campuses for the National College for High Speed Rail, which will train thousands of engineers in rail technology, is based in Doncaster. Those engineering jobs, Miller points out, could pay £45,000 – well above the national average salary, in an area where people have some of the lowest average wages in the country.
A solicitor by training, who has worked in both the private sector and local government, Miller She rsays she regards running the council as similar to managing a business.A solicitor by training, who has worked in both the private sector and local government, Miller She rsays she regards running the council as similar to managing a business.
“When I came to Doncaster, I was told people are far more dependent here than anywhere else,” she says. “They are not. They’re as able and as bright and as sharp as anywhere else. But the state had made them more dependent. So we have more people in residential care than the city of Sheffield, where 200,000 more people live. We can’t afford that.” Miller says what’s needed is a “whole shift about how you get people to live at home more, how you provide a system for them that works”.“When I came to Doncaster, I was told people are far more dependent here than anywhere else,” she says. “They are not. They’re as able and as bright and as sharp as anywhere else. But the state had made them more dependent. So we have more people in residential care than the city of Sheffield, where 200,000 more people live. We can’t afford that.” Miller says what’s needed is a “whole shift about how you get people to live at home more, how you provide a system for them that works”.
You’d think the 'northern powerhouse' only consisted of men, if you judged it by the voices that are heardYou’d think the 'northern powerhouse' only consisted of men, if you judged it by the voices that are heard
She acknowledges there is no more money to come from central government. So Doncaster has to find ways of spending more efficiently and wresting greater power from central government, through devolution deals, she says.She acknowledges there is no more money to come from central government. So Doncaster has to find ways of spending more efficiently and wresting greater power from central government, through devolution deals, she says.
Miller believes many areas could negotiate more effectively to get greater power from central government. As the newly elected president of Solace, the association that represents local authority chief executives, she says one of the roles for the organisation is to bring together council bosses to think beyond their own geography. “Greater Manchester stole a march and then we’ve gone for it place by place, rather than have a really good conversation about what good devolution would really look like, or what we might have learned from Scotland and Wales,” she says. “It’s one of the things local government should kick itself in the shins about.”Miller believes many areas could negotiate more effectively to get greater power from central government. As the newly elected president of Solace, the association that represents local authority chief executives, she says one of the roles for the organisation is to bring together council bosses to think beyond their own geography. “Greater Manchester stole a march and then we’ve gone for it place by place, rather than have a really good conversation about what good devolution would really look like, or what we might have learned from Scotland and Wales,” she says. “It’s one of the things local government should kick itself in the shins about.”
She admits that local politicians in some areas, such as the north-east, have struggled to agree on what they want from devolution. For Miller, moving more power from Westminster to local areas can only be a good thing. “I think at a local level you need to be able to pull the levers that make a difference.”She admits that local politicians in some areas, such as the north-east, have struggled to agree on what they want from devolution. For Miller, moving more power from Westminster to local areas can only be a good thing. “I think at a local level you need to be able to pull the levers that make a difference.”
But she is concerned that the lever-pullers are predominantly white men, and is determined to champion women and greater diversity in local government during her year as Solace president. “You’d think the ‘northern powerhouse’ only consisted of men, if you judged it by the voices that are heard,” she told the association’s annual conference last month. She would like what she calls “proper” devolution: real scope locally to work on developing skills and apprenticeships to support the government’s industrial strategy.But she is concerned that the lever-pullers are predominantly white men, and is determined to champion women and greater diversity in local government during her year as Solace president. “You’d think the ‘northern powerhouse’ only consisted of men, if you judged it by the voices that are heard,” she told the association’s annual conference last month. She would like what she calls “proper” devolution: real scope locally to work on developing skills and apprenticeships to support the government’s industrial strategy.
In next week’s autumn statement, Miller says local authorities particularly want to see the huge gaps in adult social care funding plugged by government and extra money so councils can meet their obligations to assist unaccompanied migrant children. “We are already seeing councils at a very fragile stage. This is further straining highly stretched services. Something has got to give.”In next week’s autumn statement, Miller says local authorities particularly want to see the huge gaps in adult social care funding plugged by government and extra money so councils can meet their obligations to assist unaccompanied migrant children. “We are already seeing councils at a very fragile stage. This is further straining highly stretched services. Something has got to give.”
Curriculum vitaeCurriculum vitae
Age 48.Age 48.
Family Married with two sons, aged 14 and 7.Family Married with two sons, aged 14 and 7.
Lives Shipley, West Yorkshire.Lives Shipley, West Yorkshire.
Education St Hilda’s girls’ school, Liverpool; Southampton University (law degree); Chester Law CollegeEducation St Hilda’s girls’ school, Liverpool; Southampton University (law degree); Chester Law College
Career 2012-present: chief executive, Doncaster metropolitan borough council; 2009-12: deputy chief executive, Local Government Association; 2007-09: deputy chief executive, Bradford council; 2004-07: director, corporate & customer services, Knowsley council; 2000-04: solicitor and secretary, Wirral council; 1998-2000: deputy borough solicitor, Wirral council; 1997-98: partner, Devonshire solicitors; 1994-97: principal solicitor, Liverpool city council; 1992-94: assistant solicitor, Nottingham city council; 1990-92, trainee solicitor, Nottingham city council.Career 2012-present: chief executive, Doncaster metropolitan borough council; 2009-12: deputy chief executive, Local Government Association; 2007-09: deputy chief executive, Bradford council; 2004-07: director, corporate & customer services, Knowsley council; 2000-04: solicitor and secretary, Wirral council; 1998-2000: deputy borough solicitor, Wirral council; 1997-98: partner, Devonshire solicitors; 1994-97: principal solicitor, Liverpool city council; 1992-94: assistant solicitor, Nottingham city council; 1990-92, trainee solicitor, Nottingham city council.
Public life President of Solace, lead for skills for Sheffield city region.Public life President of Solace, lead for skills for Sheffield city region.
Interests Family, travel, Liverpool FC.Interests Family, travel, Liverpool FC.