An independent review has strongly criticised the government for ignoring a looming crisis over the modernisation of further education colleges in England.
A wave of gloomy economic reports has further constricted the government’s room for manoeuvre in the Budget, while pressure has mounted to produce credible plans to restore the public finances...
Culture Secretary Andy Burnham has ordered an inquiry after widespread protests against the decision by Wirral Council to replace 11 public libraries with five multi-purpose buildings. The inquiry...
Councillors have been urged to become more active in service commissioning, and to avoid the assumption that privatisation necessarily provides the best outcomes...
Scots business leaders have supported a decision by Finance Secretary John Swinney to spread the cost of a 5% increase in rates bills over three years...
A combined body for the arts is to be established in Scotland in 2010, with start-up costs set at £3.3m, culture minister Michael Russell has announced...
The Comprehensive Area Assessment system needs to be changed to take more account of the role of councillors, the Local Government Association is arguing...
A new method of reporting council performance, including the introduction of a grading or points system, is being considered by Scotland’s public spending watchdog...
Public bodies need to get their house in order on Freedom of Information or face tough enforcement action, the information commissioner has made clear...
The meltdown in the Irish economy has forced the Dublin government to bring in an emergency Budget imposing a €3.3bn (£3m) package of spending cuts and tax rises...
The closure of recession-hit care homes for elderly and disabled people is placing increasing strain on councils, according to the Local Government Association...
Most parts of the public sector could face five years of real-terms cuts to restore the public finances after the recession, if the government chooses not to push taxes up...