Whatever the election outcome, the fate of the deputy prime minister's department hangs in the balance. Peter Hetherington predicts some delicate times ahead for the office running Whitehall-town...
Councils have to play a central part in the next government's delivery agenda but need to prove that they are up to the challenge, the chair of the Local Government Association said this week.
Private and voluntary bodies could deliver almost a fifth of all public services by 2007, boosted by massive outsourcing plans across the defence, education and health sectors.
How do you turn government scientists' ideas into commercial reality? Clik Knowledge Transfer is showing the way whether for better airport security or new cholesterol tests. Neil Merrick explains
Debbie Coulter, the current deputy general secretary of the GMB, is likely to succeed Kevin Curran, who stood down as leader of the general union last week.
Local government pensions are in a mess. A £30bn shortfall in retirement assets across town halls in England and Wales, revealed in a CIPFA study last week, is bad news enough.
As the 2005 election's battle of the budgets hots up with accusations of tax and spend black holes flying to and fro Tony Travers asks whether it's still the economy that will determine the...
A fight has broken out in schools but the pupils are not to blame. Heads claim that they can't afford both the workload agreement and pay reforms. Teachers say this is just an excuse. Conor Ryan...
The new Wales Audit Office carries huge audit and regulatory responsibilities, but its first auditor general is more than ready for this wider role, he tells Joseph McHugh
Transport white papers have become mere political adverts and will contain policies doomed to failure until ministers change their relationship with civil servants over reforms, a regulatory expert...
Fines, controls, ever more parking zones. Are these sensible ways to cut traffic and pollution, and raise much-needed revenue? Or just an excuse to rip off beleaguered motorists? David Meilton...
Ministers have ignored requests for meetings with local authorities facing the threat of capping and there are 'no grounds for optimism' that the orders will be rescinded, Public Finance has been...
NHS foundation trusts have been stuck in the middle of the government split between 'modernisers' and 'consolidators', unable to achieve true financial independence. So reform is urgently needed
Ofsted's first ever finance director tells Vivienne Russell about his drive to bring the standards that he has fostered in local government to the inspectorate
Government promises of a radical shift towards local accountability rang hollow this week after Nick Raynsford moved to cap nine authorities deemed to have set excessive council tax increases.
The government's election supremo, Alan Milburn, will reveal the full cost to taxpayers of his Cabinet role following an approach from the National Audit Office.
The Private Finance Initiative has not gone away it's just adapted to meet changing times. Mark Hellowell explores the opportunities and pitfalls in the new areas that the programme is expanding...
They've worked wonders in Canada and the US, and now they're over here to do the same. Nick Raynsford explains how local firms can use Business Improvement Districts to help transform their town...
Directly elected mayors were once ministerial flavour of the month but the policy was resoundingly rejected by voters. Now, even John Prescott has converted to the idea. David Harding reports
