Scrutiny
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.
Government crackdown amid confusion
Councils fear they could fall victim to a Government crackdown amid continuing confusion a year on from the introduction of new tax rules.
New guide to improve member-officer relations
Cheshire East Council has responded to concerns about member-officer relations by producing a new guide outlining the roles and responsibilities of both groups.
Our peer challenge experience
Mike Harden breaks down the key learning from Knowsley MBC's recent peer challenge.
Donna Hall: Let’s bring back the Audit Commission
Donna Hall believes Northamptonshire CC’s situation and the changing nature of chief executives’ roles means the sector needs a modern national body to support whole-place transformation.
The Audit Commission needed its wings clipped but abolition was not the answer
Northamptonshire CC’s woes have been fuelled by a real-time experiment that failed, writes Andy Sawford.
Government oversight of LEPs not good enough, MPs say
The Public Accounts Committee has stressed its lack of faith in the Government’s oversight of local enterprise partnerships in a critical report published today.
Mayor defends close relationship between LEP and combined authority
The mayor of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) has defended the authority’s close relationship with its local enterprise partnership.