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Welsh efficiency drive will focus on collaboration, says Hutt
2013
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Latest public sector news

Hold off bailiffs for council tax arrears, town halls toldCouncils should take a flexible and fair approach to poorer residents who get into arrears as council tax support is cut away, Citizens Advice said today. 24 May 2013
Five council pension schemes set up £250m local investment fundFive local authority pension schemes are forming a £250m investment fund to back infrastructure projects that will boost local economic growth. 24 May 2013
Schools 'should work together to help disadvantaged pupils'Schools could share their pupil premiums and work together to close the achievement gap, the Royal Society of Arts has suggested. 24 May 2013
Scrap NI regime for self-employed, says think-tankThe two separate National Insurance rates paid by self-employed people act as an 'open invitation' for tax avoidance and should be scrapped, the CentreForum think-tank said today. 24 May 2013
Anglesey council to run its own affairs againThe Welsh Government is to end its two-year involvement in the running of Isle of Anglesey County Council at the end of the month, handing control back to councillors following elections earlier this month. 23 May 2013
Public sector pay-offs 'need to show value for money'Around 14,000 public sector staff in Scotland received redundancy or early retirement payments between 2010 and 2012 at an initial cost of £561m, an Audit Scotland report revealed today. 23 May 2013
Former LGA leaders slam Audit BillThe idea that the Local Government Association will be able to replace the Audit Commission's improvement work is 'illusory', the former chair of the body has warned. 23 May 2013
Patient care is not a priority in NHS, say staffAlmost three-quarters of NHS staff do not believe that quality of care is given enough priority in the health service, according to a survey by the King's Fund. 23 May 2013
Schools funding should be slashed, says think-tankThe ring-fence protecting school budgets should be removed at next month's Spending Review and funding slashed by 18%, a think-tank has said. 23 May 2013
IMF sees stronger council role in economyCouncils should be given more control over planning and allowed a greater share of new revenues to speed up much-needed investment in infrastructure, the International Monetary Fund has said. 22 May 2013
Minister announces town hall pension scheme reviewLocal government minister Brandon Lewis has set out plans to undertake a 'root-and-branch review' of the Local Government Pension Scheme's investment regulations. The possibility of merging schemes is also to be examined. 22 May 2013
UK borrowed £1bn less than expected last year, says ONSThe Office for National Statistics has revised down its estimate for UK public sector net borrowing in 2012/13 by more than £1bn, due to higher than expected tax income. 22 May 2013
Nicholson announces retirement from NHSSir David Nicholson is to retire as chief executive of NHS England next March, it has been announced. 22 May 2013
Scottish police chiefs suggest councils follow their merger leadSenior officers in Scotland's newly centralised national police force have angered council leaders by suggesting that the police merger could form a template for getting rid of many local authorities. 22 May 2013
Scottish councils spending less on children, home care and roadsCouncil spending on children's services, elderly people and road users has fallen as the austerity programme in Scotland deepens, according to a comparison of local authority financial data. 20 May 2013

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London Finance Commission calls for tax powers for capitalLondon government should have full control over council tax, stamp duty and business rates as well as power to introduce new levies, such as a tourism tax, the London Finance Commission has recommended.

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The Suffolk schools' solution
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Comment on The IMF and the inflexible chancellor by Warren Park
George Osborne has retained the confidence of the markets and sustained low interests for all in doing so. GDP is higher than it would otherwise be...
Comment on The shared service solution by Steve Jorden
Shared services do work and can generate significant savings without compromising on service quality but you do need to be open to doing things...
Comment on The shared service solution by Mike Keene
Yet again we come up against the "elephant in the room" of too many small local authorities that need not just to share services but to be...