The London Assembly and the Association of London Government are independently to evaluate the capital's congestion charge scheme following Transport for London's decision to conduct its own...
Local government leaders are finally seeing local tax-raising powers within their grasp after Gordon Brown indicated that authorities would be able to keep rates income generated by encouraging new...
After months of delays, the much-heralded Local Government Pay Commission was finally unveiled this week amid claims by trade unions and councils that the 'other side' was expecting too much from...
The two largest classroom teaching unions went on a one-day strike in London this week over their demand for an increased allowance to cover the cost of living in the capital.
The government's use of public sector targets often referred to as 'targetitis' should reflect 'meaningful outcomes for those using and providing services', the chair of the Local Government...
Home Secretary David Blunkett this week played down claims that he is creating a national police force, despite unveiling centrally determined priorities for local forces.
England's pensioners missed out on almost £1.9bn last year, largely because the government failed to inform them of the range of benefits available, according to the National Audit Office.
A 'spasm of anti-centralism' since Labour came to power has threatened universal standards and equality of access to public services, according to a Left-wing think tank.
Sir Andrew Foster, the controller of the Audit Commission, found himself under fire last week from council chief executives and senior managers who were angered by the watchdog's implementation of...
The Commons' Public Administration Select Committee is to launch a wide-ranging inquiry into the effects of targets and league tables on the public services.
Local authorities have vowed to step up the campaign to wrest more freedoms from Whitehall, despite the Treasury embracing a 'new localism' for decision-making.
Motorists caught persistently trying to evade paying London Mayor Ken Livingstone's £5-a-day congestion charge will have their cars clamped and impounded in a tough 'three strikes and your car is out...
Over the past year public services have become by default a key issue for the Liberal Democrats. Internal rows and specialist groups have dominated its policy-making.
The head of corporate performance at the London Borough of Ealing has criticised the government for its inability to 'join up and join in' and for the contradictory messages sent out by the various...
Members judged responsible for their authority's failures could be stripped of decision-making powers and replaced by 'partnership boards' under government plans to deal with poorly performing...
The 4Ps, the agency set up to help local authorities deliver public-private partnerships, is to expand into all avenues of procurement under a new executive director, it was announced this week.
MPs have slated the government for reneging on its promise to liberate councils from Whitehall control and demanded a 'major reappraisal' of the draft bill intended to deliver new freedoms.
Nick Raynsford has revealed a talent for nifty conjuring tricks in his proposals for reforming the notoriously complex Standard Spending Assessment, the method by which authorities receive their...
