Scrutiny
Measuring the effectiveness of scrutiny in Herts through outcomes and the impact on residents
Cllrs David Andrews and Seamus Quilty outline how Hertfordshire CC's two scrutiny committees take a 'proactive, curious and forensic' approach that also involves officers on the council's graduate scheme in the process.
Reorganisation pause after costs escalate
The leader of Northamptonshire CC has expressed his alarm at the ‘ever-increasing’ costs of local government reorganisation, which could put the 2019/20 budget at risk.
Calls to end Trafford-Amey joint venture following investigation
Trafford MBC has been urged to end its joint venture contract with Amey over ‘poor performance’.
Councils caught in the middle
Bob Neill says nailing down a robust framework to strengthen scrutiny is an essential part of the management and delivery of academies – and we still haven’t adequately filled the guardian role local authorities carry out for maintained schools
Risk and commercialisation: Why scrutiny matters
Early engagement and streamlining of scrutiny into commercialisation decisions will provide scrutiny councillors with the knowledge and understanding to bring added value to the commercialisation journey, say Paul O'Brien and Ed Hammond
More scrutiny in local government?
Benoit Guerin explains why Government should review the case for setting up local Public Accounts Committees (PACs) to scrutinise performance across the breadth of services locally - and the links between them.
Scrutiny can reduce Government intervention risk - Kerslake
Rishi Sunak has called for scrutiny to receive a ‘strong commitment from the top’ of councils amid warnings about the risk of further Whitehall intervention.
Scrutiny overhaul at Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire CC is overhauling its scrutiny function following a scathing report by the Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS).
LEPs told to improve ahead of EU funding changes
Fresh concerns have emerged about local enterprise partnerships (LEP) as the Government considers whether to use them to funnel UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) cash.
A fork in the road to austerity
Could CIPFA’s plans to create a financial resilience index for councils help rescue local government from further catastrophe? Nathan Elvery explains why he thinks a ‘traffic light’ rating could be heading down the wrong road.
Striking the right balance
Just as football fans are driven to distraction over inconsistent decisions by referees, so too is local government agitated by erratic verdicts on performance targets and Government interventions. Dan Corry suggests the right balance is an unattainable goal.
Caught in the traffic lights
As CIPFA members gather in Bournemouth for its annual conference, much attention will be paid to its proposals for a ‘resilience index’. Rob Whiteman explains to Heather Jameson why the system of self-regulation needs to change.
Raft of changes for Kensington and Chelsea to engage with residents
Kensington and Chelsea RLBC is to undergo an overhaul in an effort to engage with its residents following the Grenfell Tower fire.
Delays hit Capita contract
Capita’s provision of human resources (HR) and payroll service to five councils is ‘still not meeting required performance standards’ while delays have hit information technology (IT) transformation, a report has revealed.
What the fire taught us
After Grenfell, changes to governance and consultation were the recommendations of a study for Kensington & Chelsea RLBC by the Centre for Public Scrutiny, and the Democratic Society. Jacqui McKinlay explains.
Overspending forces Manchester to dip into reserves
Manchester City Council has been forced to dip into its reserves after overspending on its 2017/18 budget.
County considers closer collaboration with NHS
Lancashire CC is considering closer collaboration with the NHS to avoid duplicating service provision and to cut costs.
Calls for a new Audit Commission are an affront to localism
Ian Miller rejects recent calls for the reinvention of the Audit Commission.
Chief sought answers from building society over fraud
Dundee City Council’s chief executive sought assurances over anti-money laundering practices from a major building society following a £1.1m fraud by a former staff member, it has emerged.
Cheshire East: Investigation committee chair steps down
The chair of the committee that suspended three top officers at Cheshire East Council last year has been asked to step down.