Local Government Chronicle
24 February 2000
View all stories from this issue.
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£12M TO TACKLE ROUGH SLEEPING (SCOTLAND)
The fight against homelessness took a further step forward today with the allocation of over£12m under the Rough S... -
£175K FOR STRESS 'A SIGNAL TO EMPLOYERS'
The lawyers of a former Post Office manager, who yesterday won£175,000 in an out-of-court settlement with his form... -
£1BN INVESTED IN SCHOOL REPAIRS THROUGH PFI
More than 270 schools across the country are to benefit from money raised through the private finance initiative, a... -
£80M SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP
Birmingham City Council has agreed an£80m schools public/private partnership with construction firm Galliford and ... -
A FIRST FOR SCOTLAND - LOTTERY FUNDING DECISION MAKERS COME TO SCOTLAND
Lottery Monitor, the UK's leading authority on lottery funding, is bringing together the biggest names in lottery f... -
A NEW MILLENNIUM DRIVE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S GOVERNANCE
A new framework of best practice for corporate governance will help authorities manage their internal affairs and l... -
ACTION NEEDED TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE
Homelessness, unemployment and poverty among the young must be addressed before they become the parents of the next... -
ACTION, NOT APATHY - A CALL FOR CHANGE IN THE LOCAL REVENUE RAISING SYSTEM
Although by and large there is nothing new in the world of local government finance, it is interesting to look at t... -
ADSS CAUTIOUS OVER BLAIR REVIEW
The Association of Directors of Social Services has welcomed prime minister Tony Blair's call for a review of adopt... -
AND IN THIRD PLACE? - A PROFILE OF SUSAN KRAMER, THE LIB DEM CANDIDATE FOR LONDON MAYOR
By rights, Susan Kramer ought to be leading the race to become London mayor. The Liberal Democrat candidate was sel... -
APPOINTMENT OF FORMER CARDIFF LEADER MEANS WOMEN TAKE THE LEAD IN WELSH CABINET
The Welsh cabinet yesterday became the first executive body in the western world to boast a majority of women minis... -
ARCHAEOLOGISTS JOIN FORCES TO PROTECT OUR HERITAGE
Archaeologists from Essex are taking a new step forward in developing co-operation in a new European project called... -
ASYLUM SEEKER COSTS BOOST KENT COUNCIL TAX
Kent CC says its council tax bills must rise to cover the cost of asylum seekers arriving at Dover, BBC Radio Four'... -
AUDIT COMMISSION REPORT ON DLOs AND DSOs WELCOMED
The Association for Public Service Excellence welcomes the Audit Commission report 'Getting the groundwork right' (... -
AUDITOR BLAMES POLITICAL SQUABBLES AND MANAGEMENT CHANGES FOR POOR STAFF MORALE IN ANGLESEY
The district auditor has told Isle of Anglesey CC to do everything in its power to try and improve poor staff moral... -
BENEFIT FRAUD INSPECTORATE REPORT ON BABERGH DC
The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate's (BFI's) report of its inspection of ... -
BEST VALUE INSPECTION TO ACT AS A CATALYST FOR IMPROVING PUBLIC SERVICES
The new best value inspection service for local government is revealed by the Audit Commission in a report which se... -
BEST VALUE INSPECTION: REPORT BACKLASH TAKES TWINKLE OUT OF STAR RATING
The Audit Commission has dumped parts of its plan to give services a Michelin-style star rating. ... -
BEST VALUE INSPECTORS GET TO WORK
The Audit Commission today publishes is guidance for its new 300-strong army of inspectors, who will fan out across... -
BIRMINGHAM GETS THE NOD TO BUILD A 574FT TOWER IN THE CENTRE
Birmingham City Council has been granted planning permission by John Prescott to build a 574ft (175m) tower that wi... -
BIRMINGHAM MAYORAL CONTEST COULD SPARK FIREWORKS
A mayoral election in Birmingham could be up to two years away, but it is already clear that there could be just as... -
BIRMINGHAM'S LEADER CRITICISES DETR'S PLANNING INDECISION
The regeneration of Birmingham could be hampered by delays in deciding a planning application for what would be Bri... -
BIRMINGHAM'S ROLE IN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
The Birmingham Post (p13) carries a feature on the work of the Committee of the Regions, and what role Albert Bore,... -
BLAIR SET TO PACK LORDS WITH 25 MORE LIFE PEERS
Tony Blair is to appoint a new working list of about 25 Labour life peers to stengthen the government in the lords,... -
BORDERS OFFICIAL RETIRES DUE TO STRESS
Scottish Borders Council's director of central services, Roy Millan, has retired after a long period off work with ... -
BRIDGEND MEMBER DENIES RACISM CLAIMS AFTER TAKEAWAY COMMENTS
The deputy mayor of Bridgend CBC, Roy Bowser, has denied he is a racist after a controversial outburst he made duri... -
BUGS KILL HUNDREDS ON 'CLEAN' BEACHES
Hundreds of people bathing on British beaches declared clean by the government have contracted virulent and sometim... -
BULL BRINGS HOME£2M CONTRACT WITH SHEFFIELD CITY HOUSING DEPARTMENT
Sheffield City Housing Department, one of the largest public housing ... -
BUSINESS ATTACKS PLANS FOR PARKING CHARGE EXEMPTIONS
Business groups have attacked ministers for considering plans to exempt some public sector employees from workplace... -
CAERPHILLY BACK CALL CENTRE PARTNERSHIP
Caerphilly CBC is the latest body to join a call centre initiative that already includes the county councils of Car... -
CAPITA AND MICROSOFT TO ANNOUNCE SCHOOLS ALLIANCE
Capita, the support services group, is today expected to announce a link-up with Microsoft to develop e-business se... -
CARDIFF CC TO BE INVESTIGATED BY AUDITOR OVER COUNCILLORS' ALLOWANCES
Cardiff CC is to be investigated by the district auditor over allowances awarded to councillors by a pay review bod... -
CARMARTHENSHIRE LEADER SURVIVES NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE
Meryl Gravell, the leader of Carmarthenshire CC, has survived a vote of no confidence, reports The Western Mail (p7... -
CENTRE WATCH - DAVID CURRY MP LOOKS AT THE BURDEN OF DEMOCRACY IN FRANCE
The air was sweet in the misty mellow sunshine. The local lads skateboarded around an obstacle course showing off t... -
CEREDIGION CC TO LAUNCH PROBE AFTER SOCIAL SERVICES HEAD IS CRITICISED IN WATERHOUSE REPORT
Ceredigion CC is to launch a review of its social services department following criticism of Gethin Evans, its head... -
CHANGE OF TACK FOR LGA
The Local Government Association has adopted a new lobbying strategy to sharpen its influence on government. ... -
CHARITIES TO OFFER CARE FOR CHILDREN
Charities are to take the lead in looking after children in care after a series of high-profile child abuse scandal... -
CHECKS FIND NONE OF THE 28 ARE WORKING IN WALES
The National Assembly for Wales has issued the following statement in response to a letter of 15 February to author... -
CIPFA CODE SEES END TO REGULATION
The government will not regulate the keeping of accounts under best value, following the publication of a new CIPFA... -
CITY CENTRE PUBS COULD OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY
The government will next month unveil radical plans under which pubs and bars will be allowed to open 24 hours a da... -
CLASHES ABOUND OVER CASH CONTROL IN SCOTLAND
The Scottish Parliament's local government committee was this week expected to clash with the Scottish Executive ov... -
COLCHESTER BILL MAKES PROGRESS
Hansard 22 Feb:Column 133 ... -
COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS CONFERENCE - CALL FOR EXTRA URBAN FUNDING
The Committee of the Regions is pressing the EU to increase the importance of social exclusion in distributing£434... -
COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS ELECTS NEW PRESIDENT BUREAU - WITH UK REPS
Six British local government figures have been appointed to the bureau of the Committee of the Regions for the next... -
COMPLEX ASYLUM RULES LEAVE COUNCILS GUESSING
There is confusion among local authorities over how many asylum seekers they have, thanks to the complex rules gove... -
CONSERVATION, RECREATION AND ACCESS TO THE WATER ENVIRONMENT - NEW GUIDANCE
An updated code of practice on conservation, access and recreation for the Environment Agency and for water and sew... -
COSLA AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Six councils have won prizes in the COSLA Awards 2000 which recognise ... -
COSLA AWARDS SHOWCASE CANCELLED
The COSLA Awards Showcase Conference due to take place in Glasgow on Thursday March 2 has been postponed. ... -
COSLA REWARDS SIX OF THE BEST
Six Scottish councils have won awards for outstanding quality in services to the public, given by the Convention of... -
COUNCILS TO BE INVOLVED IN ATTACK ON SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN
Hansard 23 Feb: Column 228 ... -
COUNTIES' TAX INCREASES SCRAPE IN BELOW 7%
English counties will raise their council tax precepts by an average of 6.7%, after a rise of nearly 8.5% last year... -
COURT RULES THAT DoH 'BLACKLIST' OF PEOPLE UNSUITABLE FOR WORK WITH CHILDREN IS LEGAL
A social worker who says his career has been wrecked by the 'stigma' of unproven child abuse accusations has failed... -
CROYDON'S£50M SHORTLIST
Croydon LBC has shortlisted Bull, Capita and ICL to run a£50m private finance initiative IT contract. The contract... -
CUMBRIA SOCIAL SERVICES AND NSPCC ANNOUNCE FURTHER PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN IN CARE
Children in the care of Cumbria social services are to receive further protection from abuse and an increased say i... -
DELOITTE GETS DOUBLE VISION
Accountancy firm Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu has landed a novel deal to provide two district councils with internal au... -
DETAILS OF TAX REGIME FOR STAKEHOLDER PENSIONS ANNOUNCED
A further significant step towards the introduction of stakeholder ... -
DEVOLUTION ARCHITECT URGES CHANGES TO IMPROVE ASSEMBLY'S CREDIBILITY
Hansard 21 Feb: Column 98-122 ... -
DOBSON TRIUMPHS OVER LIVINGSTONE IN LABOUR'S 'TAINTED' LONDON MAYORAL POLL
A poll by the Evening Standard makes Ken Livingstone the runaway favourite for mayor of London should he take on La... -
DONCASTER HAS NEW DEPUTY LEADER
Doncaster MBC has a new deputy leader following the resignation last month of the previous incumbent, Mike Farringt... -
DON'T PENALISE LONDON FOR HIGHER POLICE BUDGET, ALG TELLS HOME SECRETARY
The Association of London Government has asked home secretary Jack Straw not to penalise London's council tax payer... -
E COLI EXPERT ADVISES AGAINST UNDER-FIVES VISITING FARMS
A leading expert on the E coli bug provoked anger in some quarters yesterday by warning parents not to allow childr... -
ECO-TOURISM COULD BOOST EMPLOYMENT IN RURAL WALES
Eco-tourism could create up to 1,500 full-time jobs in Wales in the next few years if it is developed to its full p... -
EDINBURGH COMMUNITY COUNCILLOR VOWS TO CARRY ON FIGHTING RACISM DESPITE BOMB ATTACK
An elected community councillor in Edinburgh has vowed to continue fighting for racial equality despite a racist bo... -
EDUCATION JOB ROW ESCALATES
The row over Carmarthenshire Council's attempts to recruit a director of education have intensified, with the counc... -
ELECTRONIC CONVEYANCING TO SHORTEN HOUSE BUYING TIMES
The time needed to buy a house could be slashed from months to a matter of weeks, or even days, if the government's... -
ELECTRONIC COUNTING PUT THROUGH ITS PACES FOR LONDON ELECTION ON 4 MAY
A full-scale rehearsal of electronic counting machines to be used for the election of the mayor of London and Londo... -
EMDA BIDS FOR FOREIGN INVESTORS
The East Midlands Development Agency is seeking greater financial backing from the region's councils to help attrac... -
ENGLISH SUPPORT FOR REGIONAL ASSEMBLIES HAS FALLEN, SAYS POLL
An ICM poll has found that support for English regional assemblies has fallen since the Scottish parliament was set... -
EQUALITY LACKING IN DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES
Ethnic minority staff do not get fair treatment under disciplinary procedures in London boroughs, according to the ... -
EU CHARTER RIGHTS DEBATE HOTS UP
Two leading figures in the UK delegation clashed in a debate on the proposed European Charter of Fundamental Rights... -
EX-FIREFIGHTER WINS SIX-FIGURE PAYOUT AFTER STRESS CLAIM
The Mid and West Wales Fire Brigade has paid out a six-figure sum to a former firefighter who had to retire early d... -
EXPERT SLAMS 'PREPOSTEROUS' LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORMS
The Birmingham Post (p5) carries a survey which reveals a 'baffling array of new town hall structures' in the west ... -
EXTRA£41M FOR COUNCILS TO PAY FOR CHILD ASYLUM SEEKERS
The government is to give councils an additional£41m to help pay for the growing number of children seeking asylum... -
FINANCIAL SERVICES GROWING
The market for local government financial services work is now worth£143m a year, according to ITnet. ... -
FIRST BRIDGE ACROSS THE THAMES IN LONDON SINCE 1894
Due to open later this year, London's new£15.9m millennium bridge will link St Paul's Cathedral on the north bank ... -
FISHING FOR TALENT - LAW FEATURE
In-house lawyers are under threat as more work is contracted out and promotional aspects diminish, according to Ste... -
FOSTER MAY RUN FOR BATH MAYOR
Liberal Democrat local government spokesman Don Foster is considering running for mayor of Bath. ... -
FRENCH CHARGES PAY DIVIDENDS
Vaujany was once a charming but decaying farming community in the French Alps. At the Hotel des Cimes you ate chees... -
GARTMORE DEFENDS POOR FUND PERFORMANCE
Gartmore, the fund manager, was on the defensive yesterday after it emerged that one of its funds has underperforme... -
GENERAL REVIEW OF PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES
A review of the boundaries of all the parliamentary constituencies in England has been announced by the Boundary Co... -
GIRL WINS BATTLE TO WEAR TROUSERS TO SCHOOL
A 14-year-old girl was celebrating a legal victory yesterday after her school agreed to let her and her classmates ... -
GLASGOW 'NEEDS MAYOR TO SOLVE LONG-TERM PROBLEMS'
The leader column in Scotland on Sunday (p16) looks at the contrasting fortunes of Glasgow and Edinburgh. ... -
GLASGOW OPERATION UNCOVERS BENEFITS CHEATS WITHIN RANKS
A joint crackdown by Glasgow City Council and the Benefits Agency has identified gross abuses of the benefits syste... -
GOVERNMENT GIVES CONSENT FOR A COMBINED HEAT & POWER STATION AT IRVINE, AYRSHIRE
Energy minister Helen Liddell has given the go-ahead to SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals and Scottish Power plc t... -
GOVERNMENT MAY LEGISLATE ON SEX EDUCATION
Hansard 22 Feb: Column 130-133 ... -
GOVERNMENT URGES ASIAN ELDERS IN WARWICK TO 'RAISE THEIR VOICES'
The growing number of older people from the Asian community get the ... -
GRASS ROOTS MAY RESENT TALL POPPIES
What exactly is the purpose of the Local Government Association? Is it a representative body or a lobbying organisa... -
GWYNEDD MEMBER BREACHED CODE OF CONDUCT, SAYS OMBUDSMAN
The ombudsman has criticised a member of Gwynedd CC for breaching the national code of local government conduct, re... -
HACKNEY'S TELEPHONE OPERATORS SCORE WELL IN 'MYSTERY SHOPPER' TESTS
Hackney LBC's switchboard team is the top in London for answering callers promptly, clearly and with politeness. ... -
HAIDER'S PARTY ANGERS COR
The Committee of the Regions 'deplored' the Austrian government for including representatives of the far-right Free... -
HALF OF ALL LOCAL AUTHORITIES SIGNED UP TO FAIR REGULATION
More than half the local authorities in England and Wales, and every ... -
HIGH HEDGES NEED A HIGH PROFILE SAYS PLANNING INSTITUTE
The RTPI has said that the problems of high hedges could not be fully resolved by the town and country planning sys... -
HILARY ARMSTRONG WELCOMES CIPFA'S BEST VALUE ACCOUNTING CODE
Hilary Armstrong has welcomed CIPFA's Best Value Accounting Code ... -
HOUSING BENEFIT DEBT TOPS£60M - CALL FOR IMMEDIATE STEPS TO BE TAKEN FOR BETTER ADMINISTRATION
Local authorities owe an estimated£60m in housing benefit to housing associations, the National Housing Federation... -
HSE PROSECUTES BRITISH NUCLEAR FUELS PLC AND BNFL ENGINEERING LTD
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is prosecuting British Nuclear Fuels Plc and BNFL Engineering Ltd (both of Hi... -
IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF DEMOCRACY IN EUROPE
New Committee of the Regions president Jos Chaber has given an upbeat summary of the committee's 32nd plenary sessi... -
IN PRACTICE
Consultant Tony Elliston on finance directors ... -
INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST LOCAL AUTHORITY SCHOOL STAFF IN 1998-99
The results of an annual survey reporting on incidents of violence against local authority school staff in 1998-99 ... -
INSTITUTIONAL RACISM: NATIONAL BLACK POLICE ASSOCIATION DISAPPOINTED
The National Black Police Association (NBPA), representing the ... -
JAIL TERM FOR WOMAN WHO SENT PLYMOUTH COUNCIL AND MP DEAD RODENTS
A woman who sent dead rodents to Plymouth City Council offices and her local MP was yesterday jailed for two weeks,... -
JOINED-UP JOURNEYS COME THREE STEPS CLOSER
Three steps to a better transport system across Britain were unveiled ... -
KEY BIDDER PULLS OUT OF LONDON TUBE CONTEST
One of the key bidders pulled out of the contest to run the London Underground sub-surface lines infrastructure, re... -
LANARKSHIRE FIGHTS S28 REPEAL
Labour-led North Lanarkshire Council has voted against the Scottish Executive's proposals to repeal s28 of the Loca... -
LAW LORDS BACK CAMDEN LBC OVER TENANCY TRANSFERS
Camden LBC has successfully won an appeal in the house of lords against the transfer of joint housing tenancy agree... -
LAW REPORT - DEED OF RELEASE WAS INEFFECTIVE
The house of lords has ruled that a secure joint tenancy which was non-assignable by virtue of section 91(1) of the... -
LAW REPORT - PLANNING HISTORY CAN BE RELEVANT
The house of lords has ruled that, in granting a certificate of appropriate alternative development under section 1... -
LAW REPORTS (CASE LAW)
Wandsworth LBC v A, The Times, 28 January, CA ... -
LEADER COLUMN - LONDON NEEDS AN INDEPENDENT VOICE
It is possible that by the time this LGC is published Ken Livingstone will have decided to run as an Independent ca... -
LEADERS IN COUNCIL SERVICES REWARDED
Minister for Communities Wendy Alexander last night praised the often unrecognised contribution made by people in t... -
LEGISLATION - KENT COUNTY COUNCIL BILL
A council intends to hit rogue traders with new legislation which will require them to register and keep records. ... -
LGA HOUSING CONFERENCE OPINION POLL ON ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
Local authorities believe they have enough powers to deal with anti-social behaviour and will use orders where appr... -
LGA'S STRUGGLE FOR EXCELLENCE
The LGA has not wavered in its support for best value. Now it has produced a countdown chart to enlightenment. ... -
LITTLE CHANGE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Five decades in local government have convinced me nothing is new. The Oxyrhynchus papyri confirm it. ... -
LIVERPOOL MAYOR VOTE PUSH
Liverpool City Council's democracy commission is considering starting a petition to force a mayoral referendum in t... -
LOCAL AUTHORITIES NOT FULFILLING DUTY TO DEAFBLIND PEOPLE, SAYS MINISTER
Hansard 23 Feb: Column 299-316 ... -
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENEMY NO.1 - ARROGANT DOCTORS
Local government managers should spare a sympathetic thought for their health service counterparts. If they are sic... -
LOCAL GOVERNMENT JARGON
Why do local government officers so often conceal the unvarnished truth in jargon? ... -
LOCAL GOVERNMENT TASKFORCE TO BE OFFICALLY LAUNCHED
Local authority leaders are set to launch the local government ... -
LONDON BOROUGHS LEAD THE WAY IN TACKLING DISCRIMINATION
The Association of London Government has welcomed a new report published by the Greater London Employers' Associati... -
LONDON'S ROADS STILL TOO DANGEROUS FOR CYCLISTS
Following a recent report which has branded British roads the most dangerous in Europe The Independent (Review, p8)... -
LORDS DEFEAT PUTS LONDON ELECTION PLANS IN DOUBT
The plans for London's mayoral and assembly elections were thrown into confuision last night when the house of lord... -
LORDS' MAILSHOT VOTE THREATENS MAYORAL POLL
The election for London mayor could be delayed after peers voted down controversial government proposals for the ca... -
MALADMINISTRATION IN BARNET LBC'S HANDLING OF EVICTION OF MENTALLY ILL MAN
Findings of maladministration and injustice ... -
MANCHESTER REVEALS TOP SIX
Manchester City Council has chosen six consortia to develop proposals for a housing private finance initiative proj... -
MATCHED FUNDING FOR HOME IMPROVEMENT AGENCIES CONTINUES
The government has pledged continuing support for home improvement ... -
MEASURES TO DELIVER SUCCESSFUL CENTRAL GOVT IT PROJECTS ANNOUNCED
Cabinet office minister Ian McCartney has announced rigorous ... -
MEMBER INFIGHTING HITS ANGLESEY OFFICER MORALE
Political infighting is denting the morale of officers at Isle of Anglesey CC, the district auditor has told counci... -
MET POLICE BOOSTS BLACK AND ASIAN INTAKE
The Metropolitan Police force now employs a record number of black and Asian officers since a recruitment drive was... -
MINISTER BLOWS THE WHISTLE ON 'COVER-UP BRITAIN'
Major organisations were today urged to banish the 'blame and cover-up' culture that has dogged Britain in the past... -
MORE CHILD ABUSE TRIALS COULD STILL BE HELD
Paedophiles and others accused of child abuse in the Waterhouse report are not safe from prosecution, the chief pro... -
MORE PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
Management ... -
MP PREPARED TO NAME ALLEGED CHILD ABUSERS IN COMMONS AS 'LAST RESORT'
Martyn Jones, the Labour MP for Clwyd South, will today be presented with a list of people whom campaigners believe... -
MP TO NAME FIFTY SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSERS
There are 50 more suspected child abusers still to be named in the north Wales care homes scandal, reported The Ind... -
NEW ATTEMPT TO SCRAP S28 NEXT MONTH
The prime minister has launched a fresh attempt to persaude peers to scrap clause 28, reports The Daily Mail (p6).... -
NEW BUSINESS FEEDS CAPITA
Capita, one of the leading white-collar contractors in the council market, saw pre-tax profits rise more than a thi... -
NEW CHAPTER FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES
The only aspect of the public library service that has not diminished during the past 10 years is the number of mem... -
NEW INDEX WILL HELP DEPRIVED RURAL AREAS, SAYS MINISTER
Hansard 22 Feb: Column WH 313-334 ... -
NEW RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED TO MAKE WORK PAY FOR ALL
The gap between the lowest and highest paid - earnings inequality - ... -
NEW RESPONSIBILITIES FOR MINISTER FOR WOMEN
Minister for women, Margaret Jay, will today take up a new responsibility for driving forward policies aimed at enc... -
NOC HACKNEY LBC HAS NEW LABOUR GROUP LEADER
Jules Pipe has been elected the new leader of the Labour group on hung Hackney LBC, reports The Hackney Gazette (p4... -
NORD ANGLIA TO BAIL OUT SCHOOL
Nord Anglia plc will be contracted to help improve the Westminster school where headteacher Philip Lawrence was kil... -
NORTH YORKS IN FINAL NEGOTIATIONS WITH ACCORD IN PFI SCHOOLS DEAL
North Yorkshire CC officials are in the final stage of negotiations with Accord Plc over a private finance initiati... -
OFFICER DONATES LAPTOPS TO PUPILS
Birmingham City Council chief education officer Tim Brighouse is to donate£2,000 to buy laptops for the city's poo... -
OFSTED PRAISE FOR WORCESTERSHIRE EDUCATION
Ofsted has praised Worcestershire CC's education service for delivering a good quality of schooling to the county's... -
OFSTED PRAISES WORCESTERSHIRE
Worcestershire CC's education service has made a good start but needs a shift of emphasis, says Ofsted. ... -
OMBUDSMAN RULING - THEME PARK WINS£5,000 AND APOLOGY FROM STAFFS CC
A theme park is set to be paid£5,000 and receive an apology after a fall out over a tourist brochure, reported the... -
OSA AGREES 'NEW START' SCHOOL FOR WANDSWORTH
The Office of the Schools Adjudicator has published a decision ... -
PAPER PROMISED ON RSG SYSTEM
The government has promised a green paper on changing the revenue support grant system. ... -
PARIS MAYOR LAUNCHES FREE GRAFFITI SERVICE
Jean Tiberi, the mayor of Paris, has launched a costly graffiti campaign that aims to remove 90% of the capital's s... -
PARTY LINE TO PROSPERITY - EDINBURGH'S VISION FOR THE FUTURE
On 31 December 1999 around 200,000 people welcomed in the new millennium at Edinburgh's hogmanay street party. Mill... -
PATRONAGE BY ANOTHER NAME
Dislike of the patronage system in Austria has brought Herr Haider to power. In this country similar misgivings sur... -
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
John Heys, director of transportation and technical services with Pembrokeshire CC, has retired. ... -
PIONEERING ENVIRONMENT PROJECT PROTECTS ANCIENT WOODLAND
Minister for transport Lord Macdonald and minister for the environment Michael Meacher today marked the start of th... -
PLANNING INSTITUTE CALLS FOR ENTERPRISE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE
The RTPI has agreed that policy changes will be needed from the government to promote an enterprising economy in ru... -
PLANS TO COMMEMORATE THE LIFE OF COUNCILLOR ANDREW PENNINGTON
Gloucestershire CC has announced its plans to commemorate the life of Andrew Pennington, the Liberal Democrat group... -
POLL REVEALS SHIFT IN ATTITUDES TO RACE
The result of an ICM poll in The Guardian (p1) appear to show that a fundamental shift in social attitudes towards ... -
PRAISE FOR RIGHT TO BUY
The Sun (p6) carries a report on how the right to buy initiative, introduced by former prime minister Margaret That... -
PRESCOTT TO ENCOURAGE PLANS FOR LONDON TRAMS
John Prescott, the environment secretary, will encourage ambitious plans by London Transport to develop a network o... -
PRESCOTT URGES TAX-RISE FOR NEW HOMES
Environment secretary John Prescott yesterday met Gordon Brown, the chancellor, to urge him to introduce VAT on new... -
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS TO ADVISE LEEDS ON HOW BEST TO RESPOND TO CRITICAL OFSTED REPORT
School standards minister Estelle Morris today welcomed the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to advise L... -
PROCUREMENT MUST TIGHTEN UP
Councils must review their procurement practices to catch up with best value, an Improvement and Development Agency... -
PUBLIC BODIES CALL FOR PARKING CHARGE EXEMPTIONS
The government's decision to exempt NHS hospitals from planned workplace parking charges has opened the floodgates ... -
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AWARDS LAUNCHED
The Institute for Public Policy Research and The Guardian (Society, p2) are today launching awards for outstanding ... -
RDAs EXPECTING BUDGET SHORTFALLS
Regional development agencies fear their budgets for next year may not allow them to carry out their economic strat... -
REDDITCH CHIEF CLEARED OF DISCRIMINATION
Redditch BC chief executive Katherine Kerswell has been cleared of racial discrimination against former employee He... -
REIMBURSE FULL ASYLUM SEEKER COSTS, ALG URGES GOVERNMENT
London boroughs have asked the government to reimburse them for the full cost of supporting destitute asylum seeker... -
RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL BUSINESS TEAM HITS THE MARK
Deputy minister for enterprise & lifelong learning, Nicol Stephen, today congratulated the first Scottish local aut... -
RESEARCH REVEALS 'FEMALE FORFEIT' IN PAY EQUALITY
British women will lose up to£250,000 income during their lifetime because of their gender, reports The Express (p... -
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY PRICE REPORT SHOWS HIGHEST AVERAGE YEAR ON YEAR INCREASE SINCE 1996
The Land Registry today published its latest quarterly residential ... -
RHODRI MORGAN ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO CABINET PORTFOLIOS
First secretary Rhodri Morgan has appointed Sue Essex to his cabinet as secretary with responsibilities for plannin... -
ROGERS' URBAN VISION: A CHIMERA OR REALITY?
Lord (Richard) Rogers' article in last week's The Observer, urging higher density building to create a renaissance ... -
S28 COMPROMISE EXPECTED IN SCOTLAND
The two Scottish cabinet ministers who championed the repeal of section 28 have backed a compromise clause that cou... -
SCARBOROUGH CLEARED OVER SLIDING CLIFF-TOP HOTEL
Scarborough BC was yeterday cleared by the court of appeal of causing the destruction of a Victorian hotel which sl... -
SCHOOLS COMING OUT OF SPECIAL MEASURES (ENGLAND)
Below is a list of schools whose coming out of special measures ... -
SCOTS EDUCATION MINISTER SEEKS CONSISTENCY ON SCHOOL DATES
Minister for children and education, Sam Galbraith has called for greater efforts in harmonising school term and ho... -
SCOTTISH BORDERS INTIMIDATION CLAIM
Senior members of Scottish Borders Council have become involved in allegations that a senior officer was bullied. ... -
SCOTTISH PAY TALKS COLLAPSE
Unions representing nearly 200,000 local authority workers refused to meet council negotiators in Glasgow on Wednes... -
SENIOR MANAGER POSTS SCRAPPED
West Dunbartonshire Council is abolishing tiers of its senior management in a move that will save nearly£650,000.... -
SOCIAL SERVICES TASK FORCE TO TAKE ON STAFF SHORTAGES
The Local Government Association has set up a task group to tackle the staffing shortages disabling social services... -
SOCIAL WORK DELIVERS SOCIAL INCLUSION
Council social work services are a vital part of delivering the social ... -
SOCIAL WORKERS' ANGER AT CLAIMS THAT ABUSED CHILDREN ARE BEING LEFT TO SUFFER
Social workers have reacted angrily to claims by doctors that they are leaving children to be repeatedly abused in ... -
STAGECOACH LOOKS TO THE FUTURE AFTER UNEXPECTED DEPARTURES
Scotland on Sunday's business section (p5) looks at what the departure of Stagecoach's chief executive, Mike Kinski... -
STOCKTON DENIES DfEE'S ACCUSATION OF WITHHOLDING FUNDS
Stockton-on-Tees BC claims the government has falsely accused it of failing to pass on extra education money to sch... -
SURVEY LOOKS AT EFFECTIVENESS OF SOCIAL SERVICES SPENDING
The Guardian (Society, p10) carries a report on a new survey that looks into spending of social services department... -
TAKEOVER TALK HITS INSURANCE SECTOR
Takeover speculation was sweeping through most of the leading players in the insurance sector yesterday after confi... -
TAMWORTH TOLD TO TAKE ACTION OVER SOARING RATES OF TAX DEBT
Tamworth BC has been told 'urgent remedial action' is needed after council tax arrears rose by 68% and business rat... -
TEACHERS, TOURISTS AND CURATORS: SCHOOL YEAR COMMISSION CALLS FOR EVIDENCE
The LGA's independent commission into the pattern of term and holidays has called on a wide range of teachers' asso... -
'TEMP TO PERM' TRANSFERS MADE EASIER FOR EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS
Fresh proposals to make it easier for companies to take on agency ... -
THE CHALLENGE OF COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
An article by Beverly Hughes, DETR minister, and Stuart Etherington, chief executive of the National Council of Vol... -
THE COR FACTFILE - ROUGH GUIDE TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
What is it? ... -
THE END OF COUNCIL HOUSING IN A DECADE
Council housing as we know it is set to disappear within 10 years, according to The Financial Times (p5). ... -
THE HOME SECRETARY'S ACTION PLAN - DELIVERING ON THE RACE AGENDA
Home secretary Jack Straw reported significant progress on his ... -
THEORY TURNS PAGE OVER
The prime minister wants the new breed of civil servants to be publicly accountable for delivering results. First c... -
THREE SCOTS COUNCILS INVESTIGATE STAFF BENEFIT FRAUD
Following news that up to 80 staff and former staff of Glasgow City Council face prosecution over alleged fraud, Th... -
TORIES LAUNCH ONSLAUGHT ON GOVERNMENT EDUCATION POLICIES
Hansard 21 Feb: Column 1253-1306 ... -
TOURIST BODY WELCOMES GOVERNMENT SUMMIT BUT URGES ACTION ON RED TAPE
Removing time-consuming red tape from the tourist industry is likely to be one of the key issues raised by minister... -
UNION REPORT ON GLASGOW HOUSING SELL-OFF PLAN
UNISON today released a report that attacks the financial and democratic claims that politicians have made for the ... -
UNION: TEACHERS COULD LOSE PENSIONS RIGHTS AS PRIVATE FIRMS TAKE OVER LEAs
The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) has expressed its concern that teachers may lose out on their pensi... -
UNISON BRANCH IN BLAIR'S HEARTLAND BIDS TO END BACKING FOR LABOUR
Members of Unison's Durham county branch have voted to withdraw cash support from the Labour Party, according to Th... -
USE EUROPEAN FUNDING TO TARGET SOCIAL EXCLUSION, SAYS ALG
The European Commission should place more emphasis on funding integrated approaches to sustainable development and ... -
WALKOUT FOLLOWS ESSEX TAX HIKE ROW
Essex CC's Liberal Democrat and Labour administration will resign its chairs and vice-chairs in protest at a budget... -
WATER COMPANY POLICIES BLAMED FOR INCREASE IN RAT POPULATION
Swindon BC is blaming water company policies for a huge increase in the number of rats in the town over the past ye... -
WELSH SOCIAL SERVICES MINISTER CLEARS UP CHILDREN'S SERVICES CASH CLAIMS
Jane Hutt, the Assembly social services secretary, has denied claims that Wales has received a vast difference in f... -
WESTMINSTER LBC 'SUSPENDS' SECONDARY SCHOOL
Westminster City Council has announced that the school whose headteacher, Philip Lawrence, was stabbed to death in ... -
WHERE NEXT FOR THE NEW REGIONALISM? ASKS THINK TANK
The English regional landscape is changing fast. The government has just announced sweeping reforms to regional pol... -
WIRRAL SCORES WEMBLEY WINNER WITH SPONSORSHIP DEAL
Wirral MBC's unique sponsorship deal with local football club Tranmere Rovers is paying dividends more than a decad... -
WORCS ROW OVER BUS SUBSIDIES FOR NON-CATHOLICS
Worcestershire CC has banned non-Catholic children attending a Catholic school from travelling on the school bus, B... -
YORK MEDIATION SERVICE WINS NATIONAL RECOGNITION
A mediation service run by City of York Council to settle disputes between neighbours has won national recognition ...
