Organisations struggling to provide better services for less money need strong financial management. Progress is encouraging, the CIPFA FDs' survey shows, but there's still more to do. Ian Carruthers...
Conservative leader David Cameron told councillors that the Tories were the true localist party but declined to commit to a reform of town hall finance.
If Sir Peter Gershon has left one legacy it is that he has made efficiency a major part of public sector discourse. This, at least, is the view of Chief Secretary to the Treasury Yvette Cooper.
A political row has developed in Scotland over the interpretation of public spending figures showing that the country has a £10bn deficit but would be in surplus if North Sea oil revenues were...
Nationalists used to dismiss the Government expenditure and revenue Scotland report as unionist propaganda, but these days they are wielding its findings as a weapon in their fight for independence
The NHS is not looking bad for 60, and with the government rolling out a new ten-year plan there's plenty of life in the health care system yet. But, as ever, the big issues are all about funding...
A former Labour Cabinet minister has blamed 'a set of prejudices' for the continued exclusion of the private sector from areas of public service provision.
New streamlined performance indicators for town halls mark a 'major cultural shift' in the way councils are measured and in their relationship with Whitehall, the communities and local government...
Representatives of up to 100,000 civil servants were this week discussing plans to stage walkouts over pay to coincide with the local government strike on July 16-17.
The London Olympics present a financial challenge like no other combining a global sporting event with a major regeneration project. But to achieve its goals the Games will need substantial private...
As Gordon Brown contemplates his first anniversary as prime minister, he might be wondering why his public image changed so fast from Iron Chancellor to Mr Bean. A bit of cod psychology could help
Councils are confused. On the one hand, Hazel Blears promises a new white paper to empower them. On the other, she is busy devolving control away from them to local citizens. But there's no...
Chancellor Alistair Darling's Budget prediction for borrowing this year already looks vulnerable after the latest public finance figures revealed lower than expected tax receipts in the first two...
Scotland's biggest council has dealt a blow to the Scottish Government's plans for a local income tax by warning that it could lose up to £133m a year.
The former head of IT contractor Logica is to probe major public sector computer projects as part of the government's latest efficiency review, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Yvette Cooper has...
Better use of public sector assets will form a vital part of the operational efficiency programme due to be launched by the Treasury within weeks, Yvette Cooper told the conference.
Chancellor Alistair Darling has said the loss of two child benefit data CDs was 'entirely avoidable', after a trio of reviews of the 'woefully inadequate' processes that led to the loss were...
The government is facing the biggest assault yet on its public sector pay policy after council workers in trade union Unison voted for 'sustained' industrial action - beginning with a two-day strike...
What does the future hold for public sector finance teams in a globalised environment? More shared services, pared down back-office operations and beefed up finance functions are all possibilities,...
There's an ill wind blowing and it's threatening the government's housing and urban regeneration plans. But there are ways to mitigate the worst effects of the credit crunch
