Local Government Chronicle
12 January 2006
View all stories from this issue.
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£80m GIFT FOR NEW HOUSING CHARITY
One of the biggest charitable donations ever made in social housing has today given the Dolphin Square Charitable F... -
2006 LGC AWARDS - SHORTLIST FOR CHILDREN'S SERVICES AWARDS
Sponsored by Prospects... -
2006 LGC AWARDS - SHORTLIST FOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AWARD
Sponsored by St Paul Travelers... -
2006 LGC AWARDS - SHORTLIST FOR EFFICIENCY AND MODERNISATION AWARD
Sponsored by Fujitsu Services... -
2006 LGC AWARDS - SHORTLIST FOR E-GOVERNMENT AWARD
Sponsored by Northgate Information Solutions... -
2006 LGC AWARDS - SHORTLIST FOR ENVIRONMENT AWARD
Sponsored by Serco... -
2006 LGC AWARDS - SHORTLIST FOR FINANCE AWARD
Sponsored by Public Sector Consultants... -
2006 LGC AWARDS - SHORTLIST FOR HUMAN RESOURCES AWARD
Sponsored by Veredus... -
2006 LGC AWARDS - SHORTLIST FOR INNOVATION AWARD
Sponsored by Liberata... -
2006 LGC AWARDS - SHORTLIST FOR LEGAL AWARD
Sponsored by Risk Management Partners... -
2006 LGC AWARDS - SHORTLIST FOR MANAGEMENT TEAM AWARD
Sponsored by GatenbySanderson... -
2006 LGC AWARDS - SHORTLIST FOR MOST IMPROVED COUNCIL AWARD
Sponsored by Zurich Municipal... -
2006 LGC AWARDS - SHORTLIST FOR PROCUREMENT AWARD
Sponsored by Accord... -
2006 LGC AWARDS - SHORTLIST FOR PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
Sponsored by Agilisys... -
2006 LGC AWARDS - SHORTLIST FOR REGENERATION AWARD
Sponsored by Trowers & Hamlins... -
2006 LGC AWARDS - SHORTLIST FOR SUPPORTING LOCAL DEMOCRACY AWARD
Sponsored by the Local Government Information Unit... -
ACCOUNTANCY MERGER COULD STILL GO AHEAD
Ill-fated proposals to consolidate the accountancy profession could be resurrected with a fresh ballot later this y... -
ALCOHOL MISUSE AGENCY ON RESPECT
Commenting in response to today's 'respect action plan' launch, Geethika Jayatilaka, Alcohol Concern's director of ... -
AUDIT COMMISSION REPORTS CREATS NEEDLESS CONCERNS, SAYS FBU
The Audit Commission's report* on fire authorities will frighten the public unnecessarily, the Fire Brigades Union ... -
BACKCHAT - LOCAL DIFFICULTY
From: Fiona.Molestopper@policy... -
BACKCHAT - TOULMIN SMITH
Blame Jim Hacker... -
BEST PRACTICE - PARADING LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
Steering people back into education is tough but the Isle of Wight is using carnivals to make learning fun, says Cl... -
BEST PRACTICE - THE KNOWLEDGE
A round-up of good practice and useful information... -
BEST PRACTICE - WELCOMING MIGRANTS
Providing services to migrant workers can stir up a hornet's nest but people from abroad are making a major contrib... -
BEST PRACTICE - WHAT'S ON
Book launch... -
BICHARD DISAPPOINTED WITH FAILURE TO CREATE SINGLE SEX OFFENDER LIST
Michael Bichard, who recommended in his Soham inquiry report that there should be a single register of sex offender... -
BLAIR TRUMPETS MORE POWERS
Community leadership role is key to respect campaign... -
BOARD'S FINAL WARNING
Tribunal throws out Standards Board case after£1m and three years... -
BUNCEFIELD DISASTER SPARKS REVIEW OF DANGER SITES
The advice given to councils about how to build on or around major hazard sites is to be reviewed, following the Bu... -
CAMERON DEMANDS SETTING IN ALL SCHOOLS
David Cameron has called for the introduction of setting in all schools in a fresh bid to drive up educational stan... -
'CAMERON FAILS TO BACK RESPECT ACTION PLAN '
Tackling anti-social behaviour needs action, not warm words from Tories... -
CAREERS - SPOTLIGHT
Colin Moone, Waltham Forest LBC... -
CAREERS - YOUR NEXT MOVE
Alia Waheed looks at six new senior management positions at Hounslow LBC... -
CAROL GRANT - THAT'S ENOUGH MOANING!
As I mentioned in my last column, I'm not a fan of Christmas. But I would like to award a belated present of a wood... -
CASH FOR QUESTIONS ANXIETY
Freedom of information charges risk culture of secrecy... -
CHIEF OF NEW NATURAL ENVIRONMENT BODY PICKED
The Countryside Agency has welcomed as 'good news for everyone interested in the natural environment', the announce... -
CITY CENTRES SHOULD STAY 'YOUNG, FREE AND SINGLE'
British city centre residents are predominantly young, single people, and most city centres cannot be made 'family ... -
CLAMPDOWN ON ILLEGAL ROADSIDE ADS
Illegal roadside adverts which can distract drivers and blight the countryside are the subject of a new government ... -
CLARKE WANTS ALL COUNCILS TO USE ASBOs AND PARENTING ORDERS
The government will ensure that anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) and parenting orders are used in every communi... -
COUNCIL FACES 100 JOB LOSSES
Redcar and Cleveland BC is unveiling budget plans to staff this week that aim to inject£4million into services whi... -
COUNCIL JOINS DAY OF ACTION AGAINST AIRPORT EXPANSION
Hounslow LBC has called on the government to shelve its plans for more flights at Heathrow as part of a nationwide ... -
COUNCIL TRAWLS FOR REDUNDANCY VOLUNTEERS
Council workers are being asked to volunteer for redundancy as East Renfrewshire Council tightens its belt in the f... -
COUNCIL'S 'CONSTRUCTIVE' TALKS OVER POPULATION FIGURES
Redcar and Cleveland Council has held 'very constructive' talks with Local Government Minister Phil Woolas over con... -
COUNCILS PLEDGE TO MAKE 'RESPECT' WORK FOR LOCAL PEOPLE
Council leaders today vowed to use measures unveiled in the 'respect' action plan to improve the lives of local peo... -
COUNCILS PRESENT UNITED FRONT TO PROTECT ESSEX POLICE
Councils from across Essex have joined forces to object to plans by home secretary, Charles Clarke, to merge Essex ... -
COUNCILS SHOULD INTERVENE IN FAILING SCHOOLS, SAYS PAC
Local intervention is needed to tackle failing schools, Edward Leigh, chairman of the commons public accounts commi... -
'COUNCILS TO POLICE NEW CONTROVERSIAL ID CARD DATABASE'
Town hall bureaucrats could snoop on people's homes with threat of£2,500 fines... -
COUNTY LEADERS EXPRESS DISAPPOINTMENT OVER FINANCE SETTLEMENT
Letter to John Prescott from the leaders of the county councils of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshi... -
DEFRA INCREASES RECYCLING CASH
Councils will have the opportunity to apply for a further two years of funding to help divert waste away from landf... -
DfT URGED NOT TO MUSCLE IN ON LOCAL ROADS
Highways officers are optimistic that new powers for the Department for Transport to take over council roads will b... -
E COLI OUTBREAK REPORT MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Chief Medical Officer publishes report into E.coli outbreak... -
E-GOV CONCERNS
Congratulations to Ian Watmore on his new role. Promotion to head of the prime minister's delivery unit is indicati... -
ENSURING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT MESSAGES ARE TAKEN INTO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY
Stewart Davies has been appointed to the Sustainable Development Commission as business commissioner.... -
FALL IN NUMBER OF OVERSEAS VISITS TO LONDON
Provisional figures released today by the Office for National Statistics show that the number of visits by overseas... -
FEATURES - AT THE SHARP END
Alistair Doxat-Purcer jumped at the chance of joining the public sector after seeing a job advert in LGC, says ... -
FEATURES - LONDON DOING THE BUSINESS
Britain depends on its enterprise culture but the further you get from London, the less likely businesses are to su... -
FEATURES - PAY REVIEW TIME BOMB
The deadline to fix the damage done to pay scales during the 1980s is creeping up. Adrian O'Dowd looks at what coun... -
FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES IN SOUTH YORKSHIRE AND TYNE & WEAR
The Commission propose to make no further changes to their recommendations for parliamentary constituencies in Sout... -
FINANCE STAFF IN THE MONEY
Salaries are increasing but officers miss out on time off... -
FIRE RATINGS REVEAL PACE OF PROGRESS TOWARDS MODERNISATION IS VARIED
An independent report published by the Audit Commission today says fire and rescue authorities (FRAs) are working t... -
FIRST PARTNERS OF NEW HEALTH FUNDING PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED
Support to mental health and end-of-life care services in London is extended today as the King's Fund announces th... -
FOOD SAFETY MUST IMPROVE
Welsh councils have been told to improve their food safety procedures in the aftermath of last year's e-coli outbre... -
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO SCHOOLS REPORT
In response to the National Audit Office report* schools minister Jacqui Smith said:... -
GOVERNMENT URGES ALL HEALTH AND SAFETY PRACTITIONERS TO GAIN CHARTERED STATUS
The government says it is 'fully supportive' of the introduction of a chartered qualification for professional heal... -
HELP AT HOME FOR OLDER PEOPLE
Social care departments are successfully supporting more older people in their own homes, despite cash pressures.... -
HUNDREDS OF JOBS TO GO AS CUTBACKS BITE
Tight budget puts services at risk... -
IMPROVING POORLY PERFORMING SCHOOLS IN ENGLAND
A large proportion of schools in England provide high standards of education, with pupil attainment improving in pr... -
'INEPT' & 'REPREHENSIBLE' - LIB DEMS ESCAPE PUNISHMENT BUT NOT CRITICISM FROM TRIBUNAL
Islington LBC's ruling Lib Dems have come under criticism from an Adjudication Panel for their behaviour during the... -
INSIDER - RATS, TRASH AND WIND. IT'S NOT EASY BEING AN ENVIRONMENT OFFICER
When rodents go bad... -
INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION TO MEET THE TERRORIST THREAT TO TRANSPORT
Transport minister Stephen Ladyman today urged all states to share responsibility in meeting the terrorist threat t... -
KELLY OUTLINES PARENTING SUPPORT
Education Secretary Ruth Kelly saw in action today a leading parenting programme as part of a series of ministerial... -
KIDS GET THE X FACTOR
Parents will be able to take their children into polling stations when they vote to teach them about democracy unde... -
LAST-DITCH BID TO TACKLE SCHOOL FUNDING ANOMALY
The government is considering a last minute tweak to the funding formula, to compensate councils penalised by past ... -
LEADER - BOARD MUST FACE UP TO ITS FAILURES
Can standards body learn from its mistakes?... -
LEGAL CHALLENGE TO ROAD WIDENING FAILS
A woman whose challenge to plans to widen the A14 on a route near the villages of Offord Cluny and Offord D'Arcy fa... -
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - AUDIT OPPORTUNITY
The resignation of James Strachan as chair of the Audit Commission provides an opportunity to examine the future of... -
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - HIGH STANDARDS
The National eService Delivery Standards programme, funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, released the... -
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - PRICE CHECK
It is good that Sir Michael Lyons is interested in 'devolution and decentralisation to delivering better services' ... -
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - SENSE IN JOINING UP
If coverage of developments in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands is anything to go by (LGC, 15 December 2005... -
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - SWITCH-ON SAVINGS
Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart recently urged councils to become more energy efficient in order to reduce costs. ... -
LOCAL AUTHORITIES HELP DRAW UP PLANS TO IMPROVE COMPETITIVENESS OF EAST OF SCOTLAND
Key representatives from the structural funds partnership in the East of Scotland have met to discuss the future of... -
LOCAL AUTHORITY DESIGN CHAMPIONS OF 2005
Four local authorities have been acknowledged by the government's advisor on architecture, urban design and public ... -
LONDON BOROUGHS WELCOME RESPECT AGENDA
Commenting on the launch of the government's respect agenda* today, Association of London Government chair Robin Wa... -
LONDON FIGHTS HEATHROW PLAN
Councils are preparing to fight plans to increase flights at Heathrow amid fears residents will suffer.... -
'LONDON LEADS THE WAY ON BETTER EDUCATION'
Louisa Woodley, chair of the Association of London Government's Children, Young People and Families Steering Group ... -
MAJOR FIRE SAFETY REFORM - GOVERNMENT GIVES STAKEHOLDERS MORE TIME TO PREPARE
The government is to give business and fire safety experts more time to get ready for new regulations.... -
MAJOR TRANSPORT SCHEMES RECOMMENDED TO GOVERNMENT - FIRST TIME REGION SETS ITS OWN PRIORITIES
The executive board of the North West Regional Assembly has recommended that 25 major regional transport projects s... -
'MEASURE RESPECT SUCCESS NOT JUST BY NUMBER OF ASBOs ISSUED'
Responsing to the government's respect action plan*, children's charity NCH chief executive Clare Tickell said:... -
MENTAL HEALTH - STREAMLINE SERVICES FOR OLDER PEOPLE
By Ben Boyd... -
MENTOR - CAREER CLINIC
Question... -
MENTOR - JARGON BUSTER
What is the Security Industry Authority?... -
MENTOR - TESTING ROUTE TO YOUR NEXT JOB
Assessment centres may sound like boot camp but they could put your career on the fast track, writes Rebecca Coombe... -
MENTOR - TOP TIPS
How to take a sabbatical... -
MERSEY GATEWAY OFFICIALLY RECOMMENDED TO THE GOVERNMENT
The bid to build a new crossing over the River Mersey between Widnes and Runcorn has taken a major step forward aft... -
MORE BUILDING BLOCKS IN PLACE THAN STUMBLING BLOCKS IN FIRE SERVICE IMPROVEMENT
Commenting on the report* by the Audit Commission published today that shows seven out of eight fire and rescue aut... -
'MORE TRANSPARENCY NEEDED ON OLYMPICS' COSTS' SAY TORIES
Is London Resilience at Risk? - Conservatives Raise Concerns About Mayor's Budget... -
NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT: VIEWS SOUGHT
A consultation on the strategic direction of rural development policy in Wales has been launched by environment, co... -
NEW BILL TO ENABLE DELIVERY OF SWIFT AND EFFICIENT REGULATORY REFORM TO CUT RED TAPE
Cabinet Office minister Jim Murphy has introduced a Bill to Parliament that would provide a swift and effective mec... -
NEW GUIDE FOR DELIVERING SERVICES TO PEOPLE WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT
A major study aimed at improving the standard of services provided to people in Wales and England with Visual Impai... -
NEW PARK CUSTOMER FEEDBACK TOOL
People who live or work in Reading are the first in the country given the opportunity to use a new online tool to l... -
NEW£1M CAMPAIGN TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE ONLINE
A£1m awareness campaign to make parents and children aware of the dangers posed by online paedophiles is to be lau... -
OIL DEPOT EXPLOSION INVESTIGATION: STATEMENT
At a routine meeting at Dacorum BC, the Buncefield investigation manager, Taf Powell, was invited to listen to the ... -
'ONS ADMIT LIMITATIONS OF POPULATION DATA'
The Office for National Statistics has written to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister outlining the 'limitation... -
PAPER MAY DELIVER NEW SCRUTINY POWER
Patient and public involvement is key... -
PARTNERSHIP WORKING WILL DRIVE HEALTH AND CARE IN THE COMMUNITY
The forthcoming white paper on improving health and care in the community will be a key milestone for the NHS in 20... -
PCT PLANS IGNORING SEX HEALTH TARGETS
By Helen Mooney... -
PCT REFORMS 'CLUMSY AND CAVALIER' SAY MPs
The House of Commons' health select committee has strongly criticised the government's reorganisation of primary ca... -
PEOPLE - NEW YEAR'S HONOURS
Knights Bachelor... -
PM UNVEILS HIS 'RESPECT' PLANS
PM targets 'eradication of anti-social behaviour'... -
'PRESCOTT ADMITS HE MISLED PARLIAMENT OVER COUNCIL TAX'
Deputy prime minister John Prescott is to apologise to parliament after misleading the House of Commons on his coun... -
PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYMENT QUARTER 3 2005
Public sector employment increased by 72,000 in the twelve months to the third quarter 2005 to stand at 5.826 milli... -
PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR RESTRUCTURE
The public supports communities and local government minister David Miliband's plan to restructure local government... -
'RADICAL TRANSFORMATION AT COUNCIL WILL MODERNISE SERVICE DELIVERY AND DELIVER MORE FOR LESS'
Delivering high quality, value for money, services and improving customer service and satisfaction are the key driv... -
RESPECT ACTION PLAN TO BE LAUNCHED
The government's new respect action plan to tackle anti-social behaviour will be launched today. The national drive... -
RESPECT ACTION PLAN: ISSUES FOR WALES
Response on the issues which would fall to the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning.... -
RESPECT DRIVE TARGETS TROUBLESOME FAMILIES
David Miliband visits Plymouth and Phil Woolas visits Manchester... -
REVIEW OF SEX OFFENDERS WORKING IN SCHOOLS
Barnardo's believes all children must be and feel safe with anyone who works with them. The charity supports the re... -
ROUNDUP OF LOCAL AUTHORITY STORIES IN THE NATIONAL PRESS - UPDATED 10:10HRS
IN DEPTH: AUDITORS' REPORT SAYS ONE CHILD IN EIGHT GETS SUB-STANDARD EDUCATION... -
ROUNDUP OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT STORIES IN THE NATIONAL PRESS - UPDATED 11.00HRS
By Alia Waheed... -
ROUNDUP OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT STORIES IN THE NATIONAL PRESS - UPDATED 11.11 HRS
By Alia Waheed... -
ROUNDUP OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT STORIES IN THE NATIONAL PRESS - UPDATED 12.00 HRS
by Alia Waheed... -
ROUNDUP OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT STORIES IN THE NATIONAL PRESS -UPDATED 11.12HRS
By Alia Waheed... -
ROUNDUP OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT STORIES IN THE SUNDAY PAPERS
COUNCILS TO BE GIVEN NEW POWERS OVER ID CARD EVASION... -
SCHOOL MILK SCHEME TO STAY
The national subsidy for school milk will be retained, sustainable food and farming minister Lord Bach announced to... -
SEA DEFENCES BREACHED RULES
Scarborough BC was left embarrassed this week as it finally released a damning independent report into how it procu... -
SMOKING FREE VOTE - LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMENT
Responding to the government's decision to allow Labour MPs a free vote on proposals to ban smoking in public place... -
SOCIAL HOUSING TARGET HAMPERED BY CASH SHORTAGE
Lack of money and land will prevent virtually every council from meeting social housing need over the next three ye... -
STANDARDS BOARD FAILS BIGGEST TEST
>> Islington councillors acquitted... -
SUPPORT SOUGHT FOR GLASGOW'S GAMES
A campaign to encourage the whole of Scotland to back the bid to bring the 2014 Commonwealth Games to Scotland was ... -
TESCO EXPRESS BANNED TO SAVE LOCAL ECONOMY
Barnet LBC has become the first council to reject a convenience store application from a supermarket chain because ... -
THAMES GATEWAY REJECTS SOCIAL ALIENATION CLAIMS
The Thames Gateway has hit back at an Institute for Public Policy Research report which claims the area will fail t... -
THE DISRESPECT THAT GALLS THE BRITISH
Ipsos MORI's latest analysis reveals the disrespectful behaviour which most galls the British public. Swearing in p... -
TONY TRAVERS - CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST FOR THE STANDARDS BOARD
The Standards Board has never had many friends. From its very beginning, there were critics who argued such an ins... -
TORIES UNVEIL 'REAL RESPECT AGENDA'
David Cameron has unveiled the Conservatives 'Real Respect' agenda, including plans to set up Social Enterprise Zon... -
UK's LARGEST WINDFARM OPENS
The Black Law windfarm in Lanarkshire, the largest operating windfarm in the UK with 42 turbines, was officially op... -
VIEWPOINTS - SHOULD GEORGE GALLOWAY BE ON BIG BROTHER
'If politics is about the quality of debate this hardly looks like an opportunity to improve politics' image.'... -
VIEWS ON SUNDAY TRADING LAW SOUGHT
The Department of Trade and Industry is inviting views from consumers, religious groups, employees and businesses o... -
WALSALL PULLS BACK FROM£650M 12-YEAR JOINT VENTURE
Joint statement issued today by Walsall MBC and Fujitsu:... -
WHERE IS THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPECT FOR COUNCIL WORKERS?
Local government workers who are members of the Transport and General Workers Union have accused the government of ... -
WHO WILL FOLLOW BRISCOE?
Top local government job up for grabs at LGA... -
WOODLAND MANAGERS PLAN FOR CLIMATE CHANGE
As the threat of climate change becomes a reality, new advice published today advises woodland owners and managers ...
