The Scottish Government's plan for a local income tax has suffered a further setback after claims by a leading professor of law that it 'almost certainly' breaches the European Charter of Local Self-...
Academies have been attacked as the playthings of their sponsors. This is unfair, argues Rod Aldridge, who sponsors two of the schools. They're all about hard work and giving better options to pupils...
The near-revolt over the 10p tax band reveals how Parliament is beginning to exercise its powers to scrutinise government's tax and spending plans a development vital to democracy, argues Colin...
More than two-thirds of Whitehall departments failed to produce asset management plans by a December 2007 deadline, despite the potential for saving £320m on office running costs, MPs have found.
The government pushed ahead with its plans for unitary councils, legalising its actions only after the event and accepting blatantly optimistic savings estimates. This has serious implications for...
Not so long ago, ministers were wild about independent sector treatment centres and their success in bringing down waiting lists. But plans for more seem to have slowed, if not stalled. So is the...
John Healey has signalled a possible major expansion in the role of Local Area Agreements, suggesting they might become the principal mechanism through which central government commissions local...
The way population estimates are compiled should be radically overhauled as the current systems are unreliable and potentially inaccurate, according to a committee of MPs.
With the main political parties all committed to the academies programme, there is a danger of over-expansion, says James Crabtree. Are there more cost-effective solutions to poor educational...
The BBC is on track to meet its target of £75m savings on procurement spending over three years, but could reduce its costs even further, MPs have found.
The Welsh Assembly Government has launched a new strategy to help the estimated 12,000 young people in Wales not in training, education or employment. It is expected to include legislation to provide...
Up to half of the people who moved to the UK from the 2004 European Union accession countries have already left, according to research from the Institute for Public Policy Research. The think-tank's...
Northern Ireland's public sector is too big and too well paid, according to Sir David Varney's review of competitiveness in Northern Ireland, carried out on behalf of the Treasury. The review could...
The May 1 election results gave Labour a bloody nose and shook up the political landscape. It also reflected voters' feeling that local authorities have precious little power.
In the year since Sir Michael Lyons set out his vision for the future of local government, ministers have launched initiatives to boost the 'place-shaping' role of councils. But the funding conundrum...
Another local government white paper is imminent and if ministers are serious about devolution, this one must provide for full financial accountability, argue Amelia Cookson and Andrew Collinge
The government does not know how much it spends on back-office services and it is 'not clear' how a flagship programme to save £1.4bn in costs will be achieved, MPs have warned.
Whitehall's 'mania' for control over councils has created a climate of confusion, waste and apathy at local level, according to an esteemed public policy academic.
Keeping citizens' data centrally seemed such a good idea. It could help to catch terrorists, protect children, save patients' lives, and stop people from providing the same details to different...
The government could find itself caught out by its own fiscal rules if the delayed introduction of International Financial Reporting Standards means that Private Finance Initiative debt goes on the...
