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...
Pilot schemes allowing councils to offer financial incentives to cut household waste are to go ahead, despite fears in local government that they would be scrapped.
The long-term growth in household energy consumption is beginning to reverse, with energy efficiency in the home improving by 19% between 1990 and 2004, according to a National Audit Office report on...
Social landlords must not use the downturn in the housing market as an excuse for delaying development schemes, a leading civil servant told delegates.
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.
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...
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...
Local government commissioning has become a much more complex and strategic exercise, involving a variety of different agencies and systems. John Tizard discusses what's needed to do the job properly
Sir Michael Lyons has said the concordat between central and local government, signed last year, falls short of the constitutional settlement proposed in his report on the future of local government.
Whitehall departments lack contract management skills and management information to support good procurement, the Office for Government Commerce has warned.
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
Tight financial settlements for town halls and the economic downturn might lead to greater financial freedoms for councils, the chair of the Local Government Association has predicted.
The head of the National Audit Office, Tim Burr, has been made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours, one of 959 people honoured
The constant changes in the public sector, combined with the government's sudden brake on funding, continue to challenge finance directors. So what does the future hold for the role? Public Finance...
