Scotland’s local authority spending watchdog is to press ahead with its revised performance assessment regime after a majority of councils backed the changes
Birmingham social services department used ‘inexperienced staff with insufficient management oversight’ who did not meet the needs of the children in its care, a report has found
The body representing council chief executives has warned that continued attacks on public servants are legitimising unfair dismissals and causing top-level vacancies to remain unfilled
Three local authorities have issued a tender notice for a £1bn waste management scheme, leaving the method of financing, contract structure and technology to be used up for negotiation
Town halls will need to hold a Conservative government’s ‘feet to the fire’ to ensure it stays true to its localist pledges, the shadow minister for the Cabinet Office has admitted
Batten down the hatches, the worst is yet to come. Even if the recession is now over, there are mounting social and financial pressures on the UK. Only radical government action can avert disaster,...
Plans by Doncaster’s controversial elected mayor to cut council tax by 3% on top of budget cuts of 15% over three years could tip services ‘over the edge’, unions have warned
Local government leaders have urged ministers to give councils a new ‘power of general competence’ as a pioneering mutual insurance scheme went into provisional liquidation this week
Government figures have revealed huge variations in local authority’s efficiency savings, while experts have warned that they are distorted by ‘smoke and mirrors’
The system for certifying grant funding to local authorities should be reviewed and its value for money analysed, the Local Government Association has said
Public bodies run costly risks when they use the Private Finance Initiative, argues Matthew Dillon. Managing special purpose companies is one of the most obvious
Conservatives gather next week knowing they need to spell out plans for austerity government. They’re taking tips from Tory ‘easyCouncils’
on how to get more for less. Philip Johnston asks whether...
With a spending squeeze looming, public sector leaders should take the initiative now to ensure any changes are on their terms. Gill Hunter advises on the best way to go about it
The Audit Commission has admitted to ‘teething problems’ in its new inspection regime for local authorities, following strong criticism from council leaders
money by scrapping almost all central government regulation and devolving power to frontline services have provoked anger in the Audit Commission and been dismissed by experts
This year’s conference season will be dominated by cuts - uncomfortable ground for Labour. Far from providing a policy platform, it might only highlight the government’s problems
