The government is running out of time to deliver on its localism agenda and risking disaffection throughout local government, Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart has warned.
Forget the current headlines about schools, one of their biggest difficulties is attracting a head teacher. Phil Revell reports on a recruitment crisis that is threatening the reforms
Over a million new homes are projected for the over-crowded Southeast. A planning and design abomination or a sensible way to provide pleasant, affordable homes for ordinary people? Will Hatchett...
The trail being blazed by Local Area Agreements will be crucial to the contents of the forthcoming white paper on councils, the local government minister revealed this week.
Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has admitted that her department 'mishandled' its instruction to strategic health authorities last year, telling them rapidly to reorganise the provision and...
Scotland's new national transport agency will be responsible for a £3bn programme of investment including new rail and road links, Transport Minister Tavish Scott announced this week.
Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has acknowledged that cuts in primary care services are now creating a 'real problem' for social services departments.
The Local Government Association has warned ministers of 'potentially substantial' hidden costs of proposals to combat antisocial behaviour, outlined in the prime minister's 'respect' action plan...
A blow to spending on social care services threatens a deterioration in quality of life for carers and users, but a new grant could protect this vulnerable group and ease some of the pressures on...
He's a loyal Man U fan and an even more loyal New Labour devotee. Now the local government minister has a new enthusiasm council finances. David Harding reports
Funny, isn't it? For ages, there are no transport crises. Then they all come along at once. Christian Wolmar explains the issues that are now putting the pressure on Transport Secretary Alistair...
Hospitals, schools and councils are all facing radical reform, but the funding systems imposed to achieve this are far from joined up. Tony Travers points out the contrasting philosophies and calls...
The revelation this week that more than 1 million pupils are being taught in poorly performing schools has underlined the need for robust local authority involvement, according to town hall leaders.
The Department for Education and Skills is putting 'unreasonable pressure' on councils in an effort to push through the controversial academy schools programme, a teaching union claims.
Inadequate performance management systems and a lack of leadership from elected members are hobbling attempts to modernise the fire service, the Audit Commission has warned.
Private developers bidding for grant to build new homes have had difficulty demonstrating that their bids represented value for money, the Housing Corporation said this week.
Proposals for neighbourhood bodies drawing inspiration from the French commune model may be outlined when the government publishes its local government white paper later this year, David Miliband has...
The future of large NHS Private Finance Initiative schemes has been questioned after the Department of Health ordered a review of the biggest PFI deal to date.
Public sector managers have been urged to make a New Year's resolution to work towards a better future for mental health, one in which services are better integrated and people are supported in the...
James Strachan is to leave the Audit Commission later this month following controversy over last month's Comprehensive Performance Assessment results, it has been announced.
England's councils met the government's ambitious target to 'e-enable' their main services by the end of 2005, according to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
The detox diets and gym memberships will soon be history. But for Public Finance 's panel of public sector experts, the New Year challenges have only just begun.
