Winning money for new recruits from the crime-fighting fund could be conditional on police authorities signing up to the new national communications project.
Short-termism and vague targets set by councils are hampering innovative work on regeneration and economic development, the Audit Commission warned this week.
A campaign by the Local Government Association to overhaul the voting system for local elections has resulted in the creation of a commission to consider the issue.
Local Education Authorities found themselves in the government's sights again this week when Prime Minister Tony Blair stepped up the attack on spending on schools.
Changes to Britain's phone system which could end up costing councils hundreds of thousands of pounds were met this week with a collective shrug of the shoulders from the public sector.
Local authorities in the north, the Midlands and Scotland will now be expected to absorb 20,000 or more refugees from the Kosovo war, it was revealed this week.
The government may be forced into a messy reselection process for the Welsh Assembly following the shock resignation this week of the Secretary of State for Wales, Ron Davies.
Fundamental changes to welfare reform are likely to be deferred again because of a backlog of legislation that is to be included in the Queen's speech later this year.
