One of the few contractors to show interest in the Private Finance Initiative in housing has blamed the government and local authorities for its limited success.
Post-election, with a minister in the Cabinet and a vociferous council leader on their side, local authorities believe their time has finally come. But will new localism's dynamic duo succeed in...
Councils are targeting social services as prime areas to achieve Gershon efficiency gains. But can these 'Cinderella services' really live on less? Paul Gosling reports
The NHS has improved markedly over the past few years, but more attention needs to be paid to public health problems such as obesity, sexually transmitted diseases and especially mental health,...
The government is ploughing on with its city academy programme for inner-city schools, despite vociferous opposition and some embarrassing failures. Phil Revell finds out why
Lambeth council's 'zero tolerance' approach to non-payment of council tax goes hand in hand with its efforts to explain to residents how this will result in increased revenues and high-quality...
From victory to defeat in a few weeks. The London Borough of Ealing last month failed to convince the Court of Appeal that its 'weak' CPA rating was unlawful. But where does this result leave the...
Mental health provision will have to be drastically changed over the next 20 years to reflect the issue's growing importance, a think-tank has claimed.
Local authorities must substantially improve their financial management arrangements in the 'brave new world' of reformed public services, James Strachan told the CIPFA annual conference in...
The tough new Comprehensive Performance Assessment regime unveiled this week will cost some councils their 'excellent' or 'good' status but its Audit Commission architects are unrepentant.
Government buildings within the Stormont estate in Belfast might be sold off as part of a programme to rationalise civil service accommodation, Northern Ireland's Department of Finance and Personnel...
A report recommending beefed-up powers for the capital's councillors has prompted a political disagreement, with two members of the commission responsible for the study resigning.
Budget-holders in education are concerned that procurement targets will oblige them to axe their trusted suppliers. However, both sides of the equation will be involved in solving the efficiency...
Slowly but surely, the private sector is making inroads into the NHS, with the active help of the government. While there is no prospect of full-scale privatisation, mixed provision of health care...
