The public sector needs to quicken the pace at which it makes services more efficient and citizen-friendly, the government's adviser on transformational government has told Public Finance .
The May 1 election results gave Labour a bloody nose and shook up the political landscape. It also reflected voters' feeling that local authorities have precious little power.
In the year since Sir Michael Lyons set out his vision for the future of local government, ministers have launched initiatives to boost the 'place-shaping' role of councils. But the funding conundrum...
Another local government white paper is imminent and if ministers are serious about devolution, this one must provide for full financial accountability, argue Amelia Cookson and Andrew Collinge
The government and public agencies were unprepared for last year's floods because they ignored the threat of surface water flooding, which was largely responsible for the disaster, MPs have found.
The Local Government Association has endorsed the principal conclusions of last year's Independent Councillors Commission, but expressed concern over the proposed time limits for service.
Up to half of the people who moved to the UK from the 2004 European Union accession countries have already left, according to research from the Institute for Public Policy Research. The think-tank's...
One certain result of Labour's rout in the May 1 elections is that it will become a tax-cutting party - or, at least, seek to portray itself as one ahead of a likely 2010 general election.
Keeping citizens' data centrally seemed such a good idea. It could help to catch terrorists, protect children, save patients' lives, and stop people from providing the same details to different...
One of Scotland's biggest local authorities sold off properties for a sum that could be more than £5m below market value, a report by the controller of audit has disclosed.
A resolution of the long-running row over funding the care of unaccompanied asylum-seeker children looks to be near, after ministers conceded that the existing regime needs to be overhauled and...
A huge increase in the cost to local authorities of initiating care proceedings for vulnerable children has been approved, in the face of opposition from the legal profession.
The new agency charged with house building and regeneration will attempt a 'single conversation' with its partners, a member of its set-up team has said.
School crossing patrol staff will soon be carrying lollipop signs with inbuilt video cameras as councils crack down on incidents of 'lollipop rage' from motorists.
A poll by the Sutton Trust charity has shown that increasing numbers of 11 to 16-year-olds expect to enter higher education. The survey, released on April 28, found that 39% thought they were 'very...
A majority of people think local authorities should introduce financial incentives to help cut greenhouse gases, according to a poll carried out by the Local Government Association.
As Scotland prepares to host the Commonwealth Games in 2014, a survey by Audit Scotland has found that fewer people are regularly taking part in sport and many facilities need to be improved.
The Westminster government should restore £30m in benefits withdrawn from elderly people in Scotland when Holyrood introduced free personal care, according to the architect of the flagship policy.
Members of the Public and Commercial Services union will consider escalating their action against the government's public sector pay cap at their annual conference later this month.
Whitehall's 'mania' for control over councils has created a climate of confusion, waste and apathy at local level, according to an esteemed public policy academic.
Millions of pounds are being wasted by social landlords each year because accommodation provided for elderly people is not energy efficient, says a new report.
