Councils are confused. On the one hand, Hazel Blears promises a new white paper to empower them. On the other, she is busy devolving control away from them to local citizens. But there's no...
Local government commissioning has become a much more complex and strategic exercise, involving a variety of different agencies and systems. John Tizard discusses what's needed to do the job properly
Sir Michael Lyons has said the concordat between central and local government, signed last year, falls short of the constitutional settlement proposed in his report on the future of local government.
Health inequalities remain 'unacceptably' wide in England, according to ministers, who have urged primary care trusts and local authorities to close the gap.
Scotland's biggest council has dealt a blow to the Scottish Government's plans for a local income tax by warning that it could lose up to £133m a year.
Councils are being asked to urgently review their surveillance operations after allegations that they are using them for matters such as rubbish dumping.
The government is facing the biggest assault yet on its public sector pay policy after council workers in trade union Unison voted for 'sustained' industrial action - beginning with a two-day strike...
The head of the National Audit Office, Tim Burr, has been made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours, one of 959 people honoured
What does the future hold for public sector finance teams in a globalised environment? More shared services, pared down back-office operations and beefed up finance functions are all possibilities,...
Some politicians are pushing for primary care trusts to be more democratically accountable but NHS managers argue that the current reforms should be given more time before making changes. Richard...
Ministers have promised a review of the vexed question of top-up treatments. But with those seeking the right to buy extra care at loggerheads with those worried about inequity, what should the NHS...
There's an ill wind blowing and it's threatening the government's housing and urban regeneration plans. But there are ways to mitigate the worst effects of the credit crunch
The government should have shown greater 'political courage' and implemented Sir Michael Lyons' proposals on town hall finance, former deputy prime minister John Prescott told delegates on June 17.
