Central government’s corporate governance code sets out the responsibilities of non-executive directors. The reality, though, is rather different, writes Emran Mian
The lack of accountability for taxpayer funds spent through local enterprise partnerships is putting value for money at risk, government auditors have warned.
How should NEDs operate in an era of continuous change? By looking outwards to public service users, not upwards or inwards to official bodies, writes Lord Adebowale
The latest PF Perspectives publication, Holding Public Services to Account: the Role of Non-Executives, offers a wealth of firsthand insight from some of the UK’s leading NEDs, as well as other...
Whitehall non-execs can play a powerful role at the heart of government. But to do that, they need more teeth, writes select committee chair Bernard Jenkin
Non-executives need to focus on the people who make our public services tick. Nowhere is this clearer than in healthcare, writes NHS Improvement chair Ed Smith
Sir Derek Myers, who is leading the intervention at Rotherham council, has said further progress is required before full powers are restored, despite responsibility for some services being returned.
Councils dominated by one political party achieve lower procurement savings than more competitive authorities, with the difference as much as £2.6bn a year, according to an Electoral Reform...
A leading international credit rating agency has criticised the presentation of UK local government accounts, saying they cannot be easily compared with those of other countries.
Torfaen County Borough Council has closed its accounts for 2014/15 in record time for Wales as part of UK government efforts for local bodies to quicken sign-off in order to improve the timeliness of...
The executive director of the Centre for Public Scrutiny talks to Public Finance about the scrutiny challenge of devolution, plans for elected mayors and how to make local services more responsive
As the government prepares to devolve more powers to local areas, leaders and decision-makers in public services must ensure that accountability is as local as the delivery
Neither the Treasury nor the Cabinet Office currently monitor how well payment-by-results schemes work, despite £15bn being spent through the contracts, the National Audit Office has said.
Auditors have concluded that North Dorset District Council acted unlawfully by increasing parking charges in 2012/13 in an attempt to raise revenue to fund general services.
Government plans to merge three public service ombudsmen into one organisation for the whole of the sector will provide better value for money, one of the watchdogs involved has said.
Westminster City Council has set a new record for approval of local authority accounts after they were signed-off on May 18 – one day quicker than traditional frontrunners Oldham.
Oldham Council has beat its own speed record for closing its accounts after approval was given to its 2014/15 report by the authority’s audit committee yesterday.
The public sector is spending far more than private firms on outsourced services, despite a very patchy history of delivery. What can be done to promote better outcomes, particularly in value for...
Recent reports of ineffective local government scrutiny reflect a hard if disappointing reality. But it’s important that councils invest in an enhanced scrutiny function – it will pay for...