Centre for Governance and Scrutiny
1984 and all that
Forty years from the passing of the Rates Act, how relevant are the provisions designed to give central government control over the governance of local taxation and expenditure, asks Jonathan Werran.
Oflog should be handed audit oversight, MPs told
The Office for Local Government (Oflog) should be handed oversight of England’s broken audit regime – a role earmarked for the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) - accounting experts have told MPs.
Moving forward after failure
Ed Hammond considers the governance challenges facing members under section 114 and other models of oversight and the implications for member-officer relationships.
Brum blame culture still 'largely unaddressed'
Birmingham City Council’s problems of governance and accountability are still ‘largely unaddressed’, despite some gains made by the authority.
Curating a good council and government system
Ed Hammond says Oflog has the potential to make Government's actions and interventions more predictable and evidence-based.
Animosity hampering scrutiny, investigation warns
Animosity between councillors and the mayor of an east London council are hampering proper scrutiny of its activities, an investigation has warned.
East Devon chief expected to leave
The chief executive of East Devon DC is expected to leave ‘imminently’ once a settlement agreement has been struck, The MJ understands.
Sector to step up anti-mayor lobbying
The sector is to step up its lobbying for the Government to use its King’s Speech to end its fixation on elected leaders, The MJ understands.
Government refuses to commit to statutory officer guidance
The Government has refused to commit to issuing fresh guidance to strengthen the role of the three statutory officers.
Blueprint for a mayor
Ed Hammond and Megan Ingle reflect on good mayoral governance and the attributes that make for an effective mayor.
New audit framework within weeks
A new framework to bolster local government audit will be brought forward within weeks.
The drumbeat of oversight could be a good thing
Ed Hammond examines the emerging accountability framework in local government and says that, rather than something to be feared, it promises to place central-local relations on a stable footing.
Warning over councillor-officer problems
A governance review of Southampton City Council has warned the authority’s new administration could experience councillor-officer problems encountered by its predecessor unless reforms follow.
Evaluating innovation and risk
Camilla de Bernhardt Lane examines the value of scrutinising councils’ financial innovation and commercial opportunities.
