Public sector leaders 'facing major challenges'

The new decade is likely to usher in significant challenges for executives and managers in the public sector, it has been claimed.

Writing in the Guardian, editor of the Public website Jane Dudman stated that the scale of anticipated public sector spending cuts will "test the mettle of both theoretical and practical management".

A recent study from the Institute of Fiscal Studies claimed that many public executives are likely to see budgets constrained by at least 12 per cent in the next two years, the Local Government Chronicle reported.

According to the thinktank, the government's attempts to safeguard spending on health, schools, early years and overseas aid will leave the rest of the state facing budget cuts of £25.5 billion.

Looking on the events of the last ten years in public services, Ms Dudman said that central government has made a concerted attempt to "increase the competence, skills and leadership of senior public managers".

She also identified a move back towards larger public sector organisations in the second half of the decade, citing mergers in the NHS as an example.