Carol Culley speaking at PF Live. Image © Rafael Bastos
PF Live could not have come at a better time. In Manchester, a city that has shown just how effective devolution and new ways of working can be, delegates from across the country (and beyond) and from all parts of the public sector have come together to discuss ideas.
New CIPFA president Carol Culley, who worked for two decades at Manchester City Council, opened the conference by setting out her stall for the year ahead.
Her three priorities – pride and trust in public services, sustainability, and equality and diversity – were her main focus.
But she said with the new government having come in promising change, it feels like “a moment” for the sector.
“It’s been a really tough decade for those of us working in public services,” she said, adding that austerity had felt like “a real kicking”.
The sector is expected to do so much more, so reform and a change in approach is needed, she said: “We should look more deeply at how we respond to urgent need, and shift emphasis towards prevention.”
Devolution, seemingly a priority for the Labour government if its early meeting with regional mayors is anything to go by, is part of the puzzle.
“Having worked in Manchester for so long, I have seen the difference devolution makes,” Culley said, adding that the arrangement should “deepen and widen”.
New CIPFA chief executive Owen Mapley also addressed the conference, and echoed Culley’s sentiments.
“It’s been a really, really challenging time to be in public services,” he said.
The volume and complexity of demand services face, the recent round of high inflation and austerity have all taken a toll.
But Mapley agreed with Culley’s optimism, saying it feels like the country is at an “inflection point”.
“We’ve now got a real opportunity to change in the coming months. It’s really heartening to see the change in tone and approach that we are already seeing,” he said.
But it will not be easy; there is no sense that there will be huge amounts of new funding for services.
“We have all got to consider the need to be radical,” Mapley said.
New thinking could be required: “I’ve been wondering what the equivalent is to ‘country first, party second’ – which we have heard from the new prime minister,” he said.
Or new technology – Mapley said the sector needs to embrace change, but assess the benefits or otherwise with rigour.
He added: “Whatever that brings, I think we should retain our unique role as public finance professionals.”
