Jessica Studdert
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jesstud.bsky.social
Jessica Studdert
@jesstud.bsky.social
CEO, @wearenewlocal.bsky.social

Politics, policy, local government, devolution, place, community power, public service reform and feminism. Always searching for good coffee.
Fascinating discussions at #dcnconf2025- reorganisation top of agenda- but questions re purpose & outcomes at heart.

@jimmcmahon.co.uk was clear about challenges but stressed importance of imagining the future & public service reform that combines benefits of scale w/ being rooted in communities.
March 13, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Good to be at the launch of the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods interim report launch with Alex Norris MP.

The report urges recognition of “mission-critical neighbourhoods”- most deprived areas that do worst on outcomes associated w/ Govt’s missions on growth, health, opportunity & safety.
March 5, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Saturday night, so naturally I’m reading about public service reform 🤓

Re-reading @publicdigital.bsky.social epic The Radical How & screaming YES to its analysis & urgency.

This section on the policy-delivery gap in our governance hierarchy is 👌🏻10/10 no notes.

public.digital/the-radical-...
February 1, 2025 at 6:48 PM
On the “war on waste” (reported in the Sunday Telegraph today) Why is expertise on public sector effectiveness is deemed only to come from the private sector? Why not frontline workers living the challenges daily? Service user/community groups who fall between the silos? @telegraphnews.bsky.social
January 12, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Hang on so private schools have been raising fees for parents above inflation themselves for years and we are supposed to bring out the violins for them now contributing towards the public purse?
January 4, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Good to be at Pat McFadden speech this morning announcing test & learn reforms across the country in Liverpool, Sheffield, Manchester & Essex.

Important focus on shifting civil service structures away from a focus on process, towards outcomes- with emphasis on insights from the frontline.
December 9, 2024 at 12:16 PM
Tree is up, the Boys have pride of place: Christmas is officially GO in our house.
December 6, 2024 at 9:26 PM
Followed by a great session with @jydenham.bsky.social making a strong case for Total-place style shared place budgets and local accountability replacing Whitehall silos, as we set out in our report earlier this year… www.newlocal.org.uk/publications...
December 4, 2024 at 1:22 PM
Really powerful energy & vision from the brilliant @georgiagould.bsky.social at Demos’ public services summit. She talked about the role of deep listening & opening up decisions to the insight & wisdom of communities- a very exciting reform agenda emerging, w/ national & local partnership at heart.
December 4, 2024 at 11:38 AM
And can’t miss an opportunity for a selfie with our fab partners Adele and Caroline at Local Partnerships…
December 3, 2024 at 8:24 PM
Interesting developments on Labour’s reform agenda reported in @thetimes.com. Realistically there is a balancing act between the need for long term policy reform & the necessity of ensuring shorter term political credit for progress made. Outcomes targets are needed. www.thetimes.com/article/3b3f...
November 30, 2024 at 10:50 PM
I refuse to join Bluesky - I don’t want to become part of an El Greco chamber.
November 17, 2024 at 9:37 PM
Posts vs Skeets
November 16, 2024 at 1:18 PM
This seems a significant section in the #Budget24 for place-based system reformers: the new Office for Value for Money will have a remit to assess specific areas of *cross-departmental* spend, & consider where/how to root out waste & inefficiency…
October 30, 2024 at 3:41 PM
Interesting new National Audit Office report finds uncoordinated spending across departments, arms length bodies & #localgov which reduces value for money, while uncertainty & inconsistency over funding & policy prohibit effective partnerships... www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/u...
October 28, 2024 at 10:52 AM
Had a blast at #LGAConf24: catching up with lots of friends, hosting our @wearenewlocal.bsky.social fringe with Local Trust and their new neighbourhood network 3ni, and reflecting on both the pressures & the opportunities facing #localgov & communities in these times…
October 24, 2024 at 11:18 AM
Very pleased not to have #aurora fomo this time round
October 10, 2024 at 9:34 PM
Three NHS paradigms: state, market & community. Given recent NHS reform debates, re-upping our @wearenewlocal.bsky.social grid on the shifts needed.

The NHS operates with state assumptions + market reforms: but needs active community participation in health.

www.newlocal.org.uk/publications...
September 18, 2024 at 7:56 PM
One of the things I love about living in Cambridge is those big Fen skies right in the middle of the city…
September 9, 2024 at 7:42 PM
Excuse me while I find my tiny violin 🎻
September 7, 2024 at 9:36 AM
My question, on behalf of Northern Spain, to the rest of the world, is: why doesn’t everywhere do this in bars?
August 25, 2024 at 7:31 PM
Last minute #fridayreads entry: Kala by Colin Walsh has been my fave holiday read. An Irish millennial nostalgic page-turning thriller, if you like that sort of thing. Which I find I do.
August 23, 2024 at 10:53 PM
The Guggenheim Bilbao: a playful, interactive & creative place. Unless you’re a child, in which case you are subject to strict guidelines instructing silence & stillness 🤐

Despite being shushed by officious guards, my 5yo son was super-engaged & inspired, which I think the artists would’ve wanted.
August 23, 2024 at 3:15 PM
I love how in Spain, children’s play is designed into the public realm alongside “grown-ups” socialising. Both photos of play areas in urban squares with bars & restaurants around the edges, taken 7-8pm.

In the U.K. we’ve somehow normalised the separation of kid’s play from the rest of society.
August 13, 2024 at 8:21 PM
Survived my first day of holiday arriving in San Sebastián in 40 degree heat with heavy luggage, a highly strung five year old and a late apartment check in time. Pretty chuffed with that.
August 11, 2024 at 6:51 PM