Relations between central and local government need to be radically transformed and much of Whitehall's power relinquished to town halls, Iain Duncan Smith has told local government leaders.
Union leaders have branded as a 'disgrace' Tony Blair's refusal to intervene in the local government pay dispute as the first national strike by council workers in 23 years looms next week.
'Sometimes the civil service is very efficient. Within five minutes of a secretary of state going, you have your redundancy papers,' says Dan Corry, the former and now infamous special adviser to...
County councils could lose up to £800m as a result of proposed reforms to the distribution of the Standard Spending Assessment unveiled by the government on July 5.
The introduction of a controversial accounting standard that could expose billions of pounds of pension fund liabilities in the public sector has been delayed, it was announced this week.
Local government leaders' patience finally snapped this week as they hit out at ministers for forcing through the Comprehensive Performance Assessment regime without delivering the extra freedoms...
The majority of the public believe moves to allow the private and voluntary sectors as well as overseas operators to treat NHS patients will improve standards of care, according to a Mori poll for...
The Comprehensive Performance Assessment seems to have annihilated its unloved predecessor, despite the Audit Commission's protestations to the contrary. But all is far from rosy in the embryonic new...
Home Secretary David Blunkett has laid out his vision of a Britain free from racial prejudice and described the country as an open nation 'enriched by immigration'.
A private contractor that led calls for a new public service ethos in the provision of local services has given a cool reception to MPs' proposals to protect staff terms and conditions.
Directly elected mayors edged closer to the political dustbin this week after a government U-turn gave councils traditionally opposed to the policy the final decision on holding mayoral...
People with disabilities are being seriously let down by a government failure to provide promised funds for equipment, and some services remain in 'a parlous state', the Audit Commission has warned.
Labour's flagship housing policy of providing affordable properties for public sector workers is backfiring at a time when the shortfall has reached 'crisis point', MPs were told this week.
'We're doing our bit, the Audit Commission is doing its bit, now you do your bit,' is the message that will be sent to ministers from the Local Government Association conference next week.
Financial control of a flagship health service partnership in Bedfordshire was so poor that the scheme had effectively collapsed within months, a District Audit report has found.
Moves to resolve the two-tier workforce in local government could now face a logjam after Unison members demanded a reopening of negotiations with the government this week.
There may have been relief when the draft Local Government Bill published with requisite fanfare by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott last week finally emerged.
