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Local government features

Home TruthsThe good news is that the government is scrapping the much-hated Housing Revenue Account from April. The less good news is that the Treasury, not councils, could still end up in the driving seat 01 February 2012
New age budgetingWhole Place is the new Total Place, as community budgeting helps both town halls and Whitehall free up their fiscal thinking. So are the chances of joined-up spending better or worse in an era of austerity? 01 February 2012
The professional's professionalAs head of the Government Finance Profession, Richard Douglas is overseeing big changes to Whitehall's financial management. He tells PF how he combines that with his day job at the Department of Health 27 January 2012
Whitehall warsThere's trouble at the top in Whitehall, with senior civil servants taking to the streets and relations with ministers becoming increasingly dysfunctional. Colin Talbot tests the temperature in the corridors of power 01 January 2012
Out of the shadowsCouncils are detecting much more fraud but there's still plenty of places to hide, warns the Audit Commission's chair. Criminals are finding new ways of plundering public money 01 January 2012
Open for business?Can the government's Open Public Services agenda succeed in a period of local authority budget cuts? Public Finance and Zurich Municipal hosted a round table to debate the possibilities 01 December 2011
Two becomes oneDerek Myers is no ordinary chief executive. Having run one London borough for a decade, he has taken on responsibility for a second and is sharing a range of services with a third. He tells PF how this innovative partnership works 01 December 2011
Passing the buckAt first sight, the government's plan to give councils control of business rates and Council Tax Benefit was a fine case of 'localism' in action. In practice, it means town halls will take the rap for deep cuts in support and services 01 December 2011
Better out than in?The expected explosion in local government outsourcing has not taken place. Could it still happen or are there better ways to make the savings? Public Finance and Civica convened a round table to find out 01 November 2011
Return of the bondWandsworth has put on hold its plan to issue a council bond to finance housing improvements. But the London borough's finance director believes that this form of borrowing still has a role to play in local government 01 November 2011
D-Day for town hallsTreasury management has been riding the waves of change in recent months but a bigger development lies ahead. Derivatives might be making a comeback 01 November 2011
Audit - the next generationThe abolition of the Audit Commission is going to change the shape of public sector audit forever but many questions are still unanswered. PF looks at what the future holds and talks exclusively to the outgoing chair and chief executive 01 September 2011
Feel-good factorsAway from the sound and fury of the controversial NHS changes, another revolution is quietly taking place the transfer of public health to town halls. Noel Plumridge looks at what this will mean for local communities and how it will be funded 01 September 2011
Return to senderAll the coalition talk might be about contracting out services but for many councils, the opposite is looking more attractive. Bringing services back in-house allows better control of costs and quality and closer relationships with residents, says Paul O'Brien 01 August 2011
Community right or wrong?On the surface, the government's planned Community Right to Buy seems to be an admirable example of localism. But it runs the real risk of turning into nothing more than extra red tape for councils, says David Bentley 01 August 2011