Whitehall is to devolve decision-making to local authorities in nine pilot areas from next year in the first tangible example of the government's commitment to localism.
Local government leaders are painting a gloomy picture of their ability to meet Sir Peter Gershon's efficiency targets, predicting inevitable service cuts and council tax hikes.
Community health services might be cut back unless primary care trusts put proper systems in place to manage the new NHS funding system, a government watchdog has cautioned.
The rolling programme of in-depth Best Value audits of Scotland's 32 councils is now well under way, with the first report due to be published before the end of the summer.
Money intended to help 'unpopular' groups such as drug users and ex-offenders should be ring-fenced to ensure it gets through to the front line, MPs said this week.
The government's Women and Work Commission was universally welcomed by unions this week, but is unlikely to defuse the 'ticking time bomb' of equal pay claims in the public sector.
Council leaders claimed this week that major reform of the local government finance system could be 'kicked into the long grass' as ministers announced a further inquiry after the 15-month Balance of...
The government agreed in principle to end the two-tier workforce across all public services this week after senior Cabinet ministers and the business lobby dropped their opposition.
Local authorities' role as providers of social care could be marginalised under proposals being considered by social services minister Stephen Ladyman.
MPs' demands for councils to be allowed to invest directly in housing have been firmly rejected by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, which this week approved two more rounds of arm's-length...
Internal auditing standards in Scottish councils have improved over the past three years but performance varies considerably and there needs to be further progress, an Accounts Commission report has...
A national 'pay-as-you-drive' scheme to fund Britain's roads could replace a combination of road, vehicle licensing and fuel taxes within two decades, the government has announced.
Shadow chancellor Oliver Letwin has dismissed as 'absurd' claims that measurements of Whitehall productivity can be changed to reflect accurately 'value added' improvements in services.
Critics have rounded on the government's five-year plan to slash crime rates, claiming many initiatives require longer-term solutions and dismissing others as mere 'gimmicks'.
The six authorities capped by local government minister Nick Raynsford were angrily preparing to issue new council tax bills this week after their appeals were turned down.
After weeks of departmental horse-trading and fevered speculation, Gordon Brown has unveiled his Spending Review and it contained plenty of eye-catching, some would say eye-watering, announcements.
Gordon Brown unveiled his Spending Review this week and immediately unleashed another battle over council tax, as town hall leaders said their allocation would force up bills next year.
The bitter local government pay dispute that has been dragging on for six months was resolved on July 14 when employers and union representatives concluded a deal.
Social care provision could be disrupted next year and social workers' pay stopped if a dispute over registration is not resolved quickly, social care minister Stephen Ladyman has told Public...
The Conservatives would scrap both Best Value and the Comprehensive Performance Assessment system for councils, but have reached no decision on what they would put in their place.
