CIPFA has today launched a new anti-corruption qualification that will help boost defences against bribery across both public sector organisations and businesses.
A number of action points emerge from exploring the role of public sector non-executives. The challenge will be making them happen, observes Ann Reeder
Given the collapse of public confidence in many institutions, the role of non-executive directors in restoring trust is paramount, writes Margaret Casely-Hayford
Non-executive directors are on the front line of defending financial probity and high public standards. They need a very special skill-set to do the job well, argues Zoe Gruhn
Failures in governance – and an ever-changing educational landscape – have raised the bar for school trustees and board directors. Are they up to the job, asks Conor Ryan
Balancing charity objectives with sound financial governance is a tough call for trustees. But it is critical, as the voluntary sector takes on ever more responsibility, writes Dan Corry
Non-executives’ vital job of oversight is being undermined by a lack of buy-in from public sector leaders. Yet scrutiny is more important than ever, writes Jacqui McKinlay
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