The Commons' Public Administration Select Committee is to launch a wide-ranging inquiry into the effects of targets and league tables on the public services.
Too many social service departments are failing to provide well for their clients, according to a new report from inspectors. Sixteen of the 30 councils that have had their social services reviewed...
Local authorities have vowed to step up the campaign to wrest more freedoms from Whitehall, despite the Treasury embracing a 'new localism' for decision-making.
Both young and old British citizens have little interest in local politics, with more than half failing to vote in this year's council elections, a survey published to coincide with Local Democracy...
When Norman Perry became chief executive of the Housing Corporation two years ago, one of his first tasks was to oversee the setting up of a new inspectorate.
Business will not be forced to provide workers in public-private partnerships with the same terms and conditions as those in the public sector, the director-general of the CBI has warned.
A row over which section of government will pick up the tab for the impending firefighters' strike is looming, with councils fearing that they could again be left to bear the costs.
Proposals by Scotland's first minister to improve the workings of the European Union have been backed by the body that represents Europe's devolved governments, local authorities and regions.
An independent commission to investigate low and unequal pay across local government has been hit by a new setback after the professor due to chair it demanded a reduction in personnel.
The custodians of the capital's double yellow lines have become the latest group of council workers to strike over London weighting as unions aim to hit councils' income.
The unions are to press again for a fair wages resolution in public-private partnerships following the promise of a review into the two-tier workforce last week. But the private sector has...
The Fire Brigades Union has dismissed suggestions that it will co-operate with the independent review into the fire service now that a prominent trade unionist has joined it.
Kingston upon Hull City Council has been ordered to go back to the drawing board after Nick Raynsford rejected the crisis-hit authority's recovery plan.
The Liberal Democrats have voted in favour of a wide policy review of public services which sets out plans for radical decentralisation and a health tax to fund the NHS.
Estelle Morris's political prospects had been looking so promising. Popular with teachers and the public alike, it seemed a certainty that she would be a long-standing and well-liked education...
Home Secretary David Blunkett has launched a spirited defence of government asylum policy in the face of attacks which likened planned accommodation centres to the Millennium Dome.
Over the past year public services have become by default a key issue for the Liberal Democrats. Internal rows and specialist groups have dominated its policy-making.
When Tony Blair steps up to make his vital rallying call at the Labour Party conference in the first week of October, his government will be facing the most concerted challenge yet from public sector...
Resurgent trade union power and support in the public sector is likely to be short-lived unless unions can adapt to rapidly changing workplaces, the influential Fabian Society has declared.
