News
Report scathing on public sector accountability
Britain’s system of public sector accountability is failing to keep up with the realities of modern government, a think-tank has warned.
Government backtrack over staircase tax
The Government has appeared to backtrack on a commitment to ‘fully compensate’ the sector for the loss of income due to changes in business rates.
Rotherham apologises for misleading whistle-blower
Rotherham MBC has issued a formal apology to child sexual abuse whistle-blower Jayne Senior after officials misled her during an internal investigation.
Street backs hospital rescue plan
West Midlands mayor Andy Street has added his weight to support an urgent rescue plan for the Midland Metropolitan Hospital.
Councils in attempt to end impasse
Northern Irish councillors have met members of stalled Stormont assembly for the first time in well over a year.
Labour in 'monumental effort' to boost northern productivity
Labour’s shadow Treasury team has announced it will fund a ‘monumental effort’ to boost productivity in northern England, including a £250bn transport and infrastructure programme.
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Opinion
Empowering your residents
Authorities can empower residents by changing behaviour and enlisting support for that change when service providers and volunteers in communities come together, writes Maxine Moar.
Talent development is a strategic impreative
Karen Grave on her priorities for the year ahead.
A holistic view of citizen debt is crucial to collection
Many councils are now writing off huge amounts of debt as they lack the resources to follow collection through to payment. Gary Bell believes councils can better collect the large sums of money owed to them.
The value of parks and green spaces
While many local authorities are considering selling off parks and green spaces to balance their budgets, Paul Shevlin explains why Craven DC is doing the opposite.
The funding system must prevent unsustainable funding and misaligned incentives
Richard Flinton on the Association of County Chief Executives submission to the fairer funding consultation.
Ray James: My priorities as NHS learning disabilities director
Having been seconded from a London borough to the NHS to become the first national learning disability director, Ray James sets out his priorities.
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Best Practice
Taking the contracting challenge
It is widely recognised that commercial contracts and their associated relationships have a direct impact on service quality, the cost it pays and even its reputation. Eddie Gibson explains how one council is delivering a more effective service.
Analysis
Placing faith in the pilots
From this month, a second wave of pilots have started 100% rates retention. Neil Amin-Smith and David Phillips from the Institute for Fiscal Studies examine the Government’s claims regarding these pilots.
Private sector
Commercial nous with public service values
The bottom line should never be the top priority, for the private or public sector, writes Yvonne Skingle
No-one left behind: driving digital inclusion in Scotland
While basic digital skills are high, Scotland’s beautiful but equally dispersed landscape has helped make it the most digitally excluded region in the UK.
Union calls for more contracts scrutiny
The Government should extend the remit of the National Audit Office or create a new regulator to compile and evaluate all public sector contracts, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has urged.