More than 1,700 low-paid female employees have won equal pay claims against Cumbria County Council. Estimates of the final payout range between £30m to £100m - substantially more than the £8m the...
Finance Minister Tom McCabe has raised doubts about the Scottish Executive's plans for public sector reform by suggesting that its long-awaited 'think-piece' document might be further delayed.
Civil service trade unions this week accused the Department for Work and Pensions of withdrawing a commitment to avoid compulsory redundancies in implementing the government's £40bn efficiency...
Despite moves from the European Commission to water down its controversial services directive, concerns remain that it will still lead to the market liberalisation of some public services including...
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has said it will act on businesses' criticisms of the new local authority licensing regime but only when the police and residents have had their say.
The next Conservative government will not run public services 'from a desk in Whitehall' and will give frontline organisations the freedom to make decisions in response to local circumstances, Oliver...
Two deficit-ridden primary care trusts in Wiltshire have withdrawn up to £3m of social care funding from the local authority with just 14 hours' notice.
Unions this week suspended plans for strikes in the lead-up to the local elections, following what they called a 'very positive move forward' in the dispute over the local government pension scheme.
Flooding, terrorism and an oil depot explosion have all wreaked havoc in the past few years. So how can public bodies use continuity planning to prepare for such disasters in the future? Ronan Ball...
Below-inflation staged pay awards. A new government committee to vet all deals. Is this an incomes policy in all but name? Alastair Hatchett explains why and how the Treasury is getting tough on...
In the dispute over the Local Government Pension Scheme the government has indicated that it may give trade unions concessions on the issue of protection.
The FE white paper rightly recognises that adults and young people have different learning needs. But more needs to be done to provide adult learners with greater choice and lighter-touch planning
Local government workers are not striking over unreasonable pension demands. They simply want equal treatment with other public sector employees and a fair replacement for the '85-year' rule
The latest guidance issued to councils on 'efficiency gains' is clearer and acknowledges the importance of quality. But there are still gaps, not least how all these savings should be measured....
Rumours of the PFI's death have been greatly exaggerated. With its lengthy inflexible contracts and high annual costs, its days were looking numbered in an era of choice. But then Gordon Brown came...
Whitehall's Departmental Capability Reviews should take account of the experience and views of local government, according to a former council chief executive.
Government attempts to speed up planning decisions must not overlook the need for house building to keep pace with economic growth, social landlords said this week.
A top firm of accountants is being called in to examine the finances of Scottish Enterprise after the disclosure that the economic development agency has overspent by £30m.
Labour and the Liberal Democrats this week set out their stalls for the local elections on May 4 and immediately attacked one another's record in local government.
Councils hoping to set up an arm's-length management organisation or transfer their homes to a housing association will be able to submit bids following next month's local elections.
Primary school pupils could be measured against individual development targets under plans to boost social mobility being considered by the Cabinet Office, Public Finance has learnt.
A council that covers the biggest area of all Scottish local authorities has 'significant strengths', but needs to improve the corporate management of its decentralised structure, a public spending...
Town halls will need more money if they are to help the government achieve their ambitious carbon emission targets, local government leaders warned this week.
