Scottish local authorities face a major reorganisation of backroom functions such as payroll and council tax collection as ministers increase the pressure for more joined-up work between councils.
Prime Minister Tony Blair will step into the lions' den next week when he delivers an address to the annual conference of the Trades Union Congress in Brighton.
The government launched its blueprint for the future of secondary schools this week, granting ministers reserve powers to curtail failing schools while promising high performers new freedoms.
There is one way to deal with an unfavourable inspection, and that is to not publish it. Steve Brown explains how some local authorities are managing to escape being named and shamed
The long-running dispute between private care homeowners and local authorities in Scotland has ended, following an agreement to set up an independent review group to examine funding.
Prime Minister Tony Blair's e-government targets are looking increasingly shaky as councils struggle to put together plans and industry experts call for a more realistic timescale.
The government's £180bn transport plan will have no effect in tackling the gridlock on many of Britain's roads, according to a leading business think-tank.
The government's attempts to increase the number of successful adoptions by setting up a national register must not obscure the needs of children, the Association of Directors of Social Services...
Dame Helena Shovelton's annus horribilis came full circle this week when the government announced it would not re-employ her as chair of the Audit Commission.
Unions have given a lukewarm welcome to government plans for a £250m sweetener for teachers based in the Southeast who are priced out of jobs because of escalating property prices.
An unnamed district council has been fined £28,050 for more than 1,000 breaches of the Pensions Act in relation to information provided to local government pension scheme members.
The three government partnership directors who will help mastermind the takeover of the National Air Traffic Services by a public-private partnership have been named.
Public sector workers have emerged as the winners in a survey scrutinising the ethical investment policies of the 100 largest occupational pension schemes.
The government has announced the locations of the first 16 centres of vocational excellence which are designed to boost young people's skills in fields where there are job vacancies.
A private firm has angered unions by following its takeover of school support services in Bradford with an immediate warning to 1,000 former council employees to expect staff reductions.
The leader of Birmingham City Council fears ministers may have to impose a mayoral referendum on the city to sidestep continual opposition by councillors.
Fifteen local authorities have been asked to explain successive high increases in council tax, as ministers restated their readiness to impose some form of spending controls in future years.
