Local government reformer Sir Michael Lyons wants more choice at a local level. But, as George Jones and John Stewart argue, it's a controlling central government culture that needs to change
The public sector in Scotland is facing an increasing pension fund shortfall, which now stands at more than £53bn, a study by Audit Scotland has found.
The government has pledged to eliminate the 'postcode lottery' in NHS funding for care home residents through the long-awaited introduction of a single national framework.
The US comptroller general, David Walker, has praised the UK's system of permanent secretaries running Whitehall departments and wants a similar system introduced in US government departments.
The Department of Health cannot legally change the way NHS services are provided without first consulting the affected local population, a high court judge has ruled.
Town halls have been urged to tighten up their record keeping after an investigation by the education watchdog revealed that few schools and councils are keep a reliable and accessible list of...
Prime Minister Tony Blair this week initiated a crucial phase of his third-term public services reforms a wide-ranging review of private and voluntary sector capabilities across health, social care...
The Housing Market Renewal programme is aimed at regenerating rundown areas, through replacing or renewing poor housing. But it is now threatened by the loss of its champion John Prescott and a...
As three-quarters of UK waste still goes to landfill, there has been talk of charging households that do not recycle. This would not require any new laws as a trio of existing ones could be brought...
Town hall finance chiefs are retreating from the challenges thrown up by local government reform, according to the man reviewing the function and funding of councils.
A former permanent secretary this week called for Whitehall's performance assessments to be quickly handed over to an external regulator once the new frameworks become embedded.
Connecting for Health the NHS's huge National Programme for IT has been dogged by 'scope creep' and core 'spine' problems. But as its chief, Richard Granger, tells PF , plenty has gone right,...
Broxtowe is one of more than 100 councils that have rejected the government's three funding options for meeting the decent homes standard. Next week sees the official launch of their own...
Council-owned housing companies have been guaranteed a long-term future but will have to wait at least two years before gaining extra borrowing powers.
Local authorities do not understand the recreational needs of their communities and must improve the financial management of facilities such as swimming pools, football pitches and gyms, the Audit...
The Scottish Executive has been told to review thoroughly its flagship policy of free personal care for the elderly after an inquiry found councils have insufficient funds to meet demand.
Community planning partnerships in the public sector are finding it difficult to improve services because of their complex remit, Audit Scotland has found.
The Department for Communities and Local Government is considering a fundamental overhaul of local authority pensions potentially creating a new scheme with retirement payments linked to employees...
