Voluntary organisations can get to people and places that other service providers struggle to reach. Or can they? The government thinks so but the public administration select committee is not so...
Citizen empowerment is intended to complement local democracy, but the growth in partnerships can mean less involvement. Chris Skelcher and Eric-Hans Klijn explain how this circle could be squared
The Local Government Association has welcomed the latest municipal waste figures, showing a decrease in landfill and an increase in recycling in England.
Councils preparing to become unitary authorities next April need to work out just how they will make local involvement a reality, local government minister John Healey has said.
The Labour Party has signalled encouragement for councils to build more homes and a central role for directly employed staff in public service delivery.
The Local Government Association has launched a cross-party attack on the government's police reform plans, criticising attempts to increase accountability.
Joint ventures in which the public sector provides the land and funds and the private sector the expertise may be the key part of a government package to boost the building of affordable homes
England's regional development agencies met or exceeded their performance targets in most areas in the past financial year, according to government figures.
Direction-of-travel statements will no longer be applied to council performance under plans for a radically simplified and streamlined version of the new inspection framework for local services,...
A court ruling on equal pay has thrown town hall wage structures into chaos, just days after unions and employers agreed to talks aimed at settling the dispute over this year's pay round.
The Labour government has been keen to use legislation to push through its public sector reform agenda. However, there are unintended consequences when powers are not thought through, say Stephen...
You might be fighting fit and at the top of your game, but if you're 65 you can be forced out of your job. This could all change after a spate of age discrimination claims and a European Court...
Action taken by local, regional and devolved administrations on climate change is encouraging, but efforts are hampered by contradictions in cross-government policy, MPs have said.
he green paper on police service reform proposes to include directly elected local representatives on police authorities. But will they have enough clout, asks Rick Muir
Criticisms of lack of evidence about the third sector's role in public services are misplaced, says Stephen Bubb. The root of the problem is poor commissioning
