Capita employees are to be given powers to complete criminal record checks and access police files in a move to prevent any further bottlenecks at the Criminal Records Bureau.
Home Secretary David...
Town hall leaders will use their top-level meeting with government ministers next week to demand assurances that councils will not be sidelined by the much-vaunted policy of 'new localism'.
Fears...
Plans to build thousands of affordable homes remain at risk in spite of a government pledge to smooth over the abolition of a major grant scheme.
A last-minute decision by the Office of the Deputy...
Watchdogs at the Office of Fair Trading have warned that their investigation into alleged anti-competition activities at the Environment Agency will be a complex affair.
The OFT launched its...
London boroughs have accused the government of 'spin' this week after five local education authorities were named and shamed as having the capital's worst performing schools, despite being recognised...
The government has lined up a number of concessions on its foundation trust initiative in an attempt to ensure its safe passage.
Following last week's muted rebellion, the Health and Social Care (...
Westminster City Council this week found itself embroiled in a new row over the relocation of its staff and services under outsourcing contracts, when it emerged that the London borough's housing...
Councils in Scotland look set to be elected by proportional representation after a deal was agreed between the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats for a new ruling coalition in Scotland.
MSPs...
Councils should be prohibited from placing families with children in bed and breakfast accommodation for more than six weeks, the government said this week.
New proposals on housing homeless people...
Housing associations are finding it difficult to collect escalating rent arrears from tenants and 'a major rethink is needed', the Audit Commission warned this week.
A report by the local...
The cost of running central government has risen sharply, according to figures released by the Treasury this week.
Central administration and associated spending were the highest for 18 years,...
Smaller housing associations are being squeezed out of new development programmes as the Housing Corporation diverts money towards larger landlords.
During the coming year, 28,500 new homes will be...
Rabbi Julia Neuberger has announced she is to leave the King's Fund think-tank after six years as chief executive.
Neuberger, one of the most prominent figures in health service thinking, will...
The government's 'consumerist' approach to public services, promoting competition between providers, could alienate the very people they are supposed to serve, a Left-wing think-tank claims....
Traditional employer-staff differences over local government pay re-emerged this week after the trade union and council representatives completed their submissions to the body set up to investigate...
Few finance managers feel able to express strongly positive views on the success of e-government plans
Last week's local election results will have given comfort to e-government enthusiasts...
The Commons' education select committee has launched an inquiry into the row over schools funding, calling on standards minister David Miliband to explain an alleged £530m shortfall.
Chair Barry...
The IT system for the Criminal Records Bureau failed to meet the government's original specification, a Home Office minister has admitted.
Junior minister Hilary Benn conceded that the CRB's system...
Though voter apathy remains an unsolved conundrum, every party was able to claim a small victory
Audible sighs of relief could be heard around the Westminster village in the aftermath of the...
Electricity companies were this week attacked for failing to pass on to consumers the 'substantial' cost savings brought about by government-led reforms in the sector.
The National Audit Office,...
Foundation trusts will increase inequity and lead to wage inflation and aggressive staff poaching, the Commons health select committee said this week.
The committee's report, which was published to...
Labour has held on to power in the devolved administrations, strengthening its position in the Welsh Assembly but losing six seats in the Scottish Parliament.
Welsh Labour leader Rhodri Morgan said...
Local government leaders are warning of 'major concerns' over the planned overhaul of Comprehensive Performance Assessments put out to consultation by the Audit Commission last month.
Authorities...
Social landlords should compete for the right to manage houses transferred from local authorities, a leading lender said this week.
Competition might raise the quality of post-transfer management...
