Gordon Brown heralded root-and-branch reforms to the regulation of public services as he used his Budget statement to announce plans to slash the number of inspectorates from 11 to four.
Millions of public service workers look certain to take part in the sector's largest strike for decades next week as the government comes under fire for its 'politically inept' handling of pension...
They've worked wonders in Canada and the US, and now they're over here to do the same. Nick Raynsford explains how local firms can use Business Improvement Districts to help transform their town...
The Freedom of Information Act brings greater transparency about public sector spending and decision-making. But there are some grey areas, such as internal audit and fraud investigations, where...
Directly elected mayors were once ministerial flavour of the month but the policy was resoundingly rejected by voters. Now, even John Prescott has converted to the idea. David Harding reports
Ealing council was improving by leaps and bounds, the Audit Commission itself said so. So when its 'good' assessment was downgraded to 'weak', the London borough went to court and won
London local authorities have set average Band D council tax increases below the national 4% rise, although six councils are risking the wrath of government with increases at or above the 5%...
Ninety-eight percent of local authorities say they will meet the government target of offering all their services on-line by the end of this year, according to the latest assessment.
A £500m reduction in benefit fraud by the Department for Work and Pensions has been wiped out by rising overpayments to claimants, the DWP's permanent secretary admitted to MPs this week.
Almost 150 councillors, tenants and trade unionists lobbied Parliament this week, claiming local authorities must be granted a fourth option for meeting the decent homes standard.
Scotland's devolved administration has shown how it intends to keep right on to the end of the road and how much the journey is likely to cost Scottish taxpayers.
Almos are the popular answer for cash-strapped councils wanting to upgrade their homes without hiving them off. But their powers are limited compared with housing associations. John Perry explains...
As the political parties compete for the most radical cuts to red tape before the election, they are turning their magnifying glasses on to regulation and inspection. While a pruning is overdue, it...
The shadow chief secretary to the Treasury is unafraid to speak of huge Whitehall cuts in his plan for better public services. Joseph McHugh heard his battle strategy
Is our system of government in terminal decline, obsessed by spin and central control? Sir Christopher Foster, a former adviser to both Labour and Tory ministers, thinks so. He uses privatisation of...
Local authorities are losing millions of pounds in council tax revenue each year because of inadequate collection systems, according to a study by the GMB trade union.
Public services in Scotland are delivered as part of a patchwork operation that is starting to fray. Minister Tom McCabe is stitching together a reform package that might begin with a reorganisation...
Foundation schools are being talked up as the next big thing in education. But will fast-tracking them mean more parent choice and school autonomy or a dangerous lack of accountability and...
Beefing up city and county regions might paradoxically be the most effective way of putting the local into 'new localism' in the twenty-first century, argues Gerry Stoker
A revised set of Best Value Performance Indicators for 2005/06, which deletes 14 measures and introduces ten new ones, has been agreed by local authorities and ministers.
A new code of practice will require local authorities to minimise tender costs for contract bidders and settle invoices promptly so small local firms can compete for their business.
