http://www.lgcplus.com/RSS/Improvement_Zone_RSS.xml en-uk Effective reviews are vital to make sure services are performing properly. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/08/services_inspector.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/08/services_inspector.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 Robert Bullard 28 August 2008 08:01 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/bp_birmingham_resized_150_tcm16-1808850.jpg Councils face delay and uncertainty over whether they can secure grants for pioneering housing joint ventures. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/08/joint_ventures_face_registration_delays.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/08/joint_ventures_face_registration_delays.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 28 August 2008 08:01 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/Council%20Housing%201_resized_70_tcm16-159275.jpg A county council cheif executive has been appointed as a non-executive board member of the Government Equalities Office (GEO). http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/bungard_appointed_to_geo.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/bungard_appointed_to_geo.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 Robin Latchem 22 August 2008 08:51 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/cropped-peter-bungard_resized_70_tcm16-1805866.jpg Wolverhampton's Raising Enjoyment & Achievement (REACH) scheme is tackling underperformance in 14-16 year olds. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/enjoyable_learning.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/enjoyable_learning.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 Kathy Oxtoby 22 August 2008 10:09 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/cropped-design_resized_150_tcm16-1805900.jpg The government should overhaul its waste targets for local authorities, a heavyweight committee of peers has concluded. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/call_to_rethink_waste_targets.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/call_to_rethink_waste_targets.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 20 August 2008 09:37 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/Refuse2_resized_70_tcm16-168429.jpg Councils across England and Wales have been urged to sign up to a campaign for a national home insulation programme. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/lga_call_to_back_insulation_campaign.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/lga_call_to_back_insulation_campaign.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 David Blackman 20 August 2008 08:46 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/lga_logo_resized_70_tcm16-1677012.jpg One of the biggest challenges for Cumbria CC is to make sure young people living in rural areas have the same chances and choices as those with easier access to education. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/08/learning_made_easier.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/08/learning_made_easier.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 Kathy Oxtoby 21 August 2008 08:01 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/bp_bus_service_resized_150_tcm16-1804401.jpg A majority of voters and MPs agree that councils have a key role in tackling climate change, according to new research published by the LGA. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/councils_backed_over_climate_change.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/councils_backed_over_climate_change.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 Robin Latchem 19 August 2008 08:20 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/Environment%20sign_resized_70_tcm16-159423.jpg A proposed national network to process surveillance checks on rogue traders, fraudsters and fly-tippers could lead to savings. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/08/home_office_looks_at_surveillance_network.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/08/home_office_looks_at_surveillance_network.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 Jim Dunton 14 August 2008 13:07 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/tyres_resized_70_tcm16-1797655.jpg Residents will lose legal rights to complain about noise or pollution caused by major infrastructure construction projects under proposals to revamp the planning system, council leaders have warned. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/construction_protection_fears.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/construction_protection_fears.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 David Blackman 13 August 2008 17:13 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/cropped-building-site-2_resized_70_tcm16-1797544.jpg Milton Keynes Council has signed up to a new £80m outsourcing contract in a bid to ramp up its increase recycling programme and reduce its carbon footprint. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/milton_keynes_outsources_recycling.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/milton_keynes_outsources_recycling.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 James Illman 13 August 2008 13:56 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/recycle%20paper_resized_70_tcm16-642403.jpg Councils are being encouraged to learn from fellow authorities to help save money, clean up their streets and make them better areas to live. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/councils_urged_to_copy_others.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/councils_urged_to_copy_others.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 Robin Latchem 13 August 2008 08:17 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/Refuse2_resized_70_tcm16-168429.jpg The credit crunch has hit regeneration projects harder than other types of property investment, according to an authoritative new survey. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/credit_crunch_hits_regeneration.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/credit_crunch_hits_regeneration.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 12 August 2008 14:11 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/Feature%202_iStock_resized_70_tcm16-1055694.jpg Public/private partnerships are delivering large projects and improved services. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/08/crosssector_working.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/08/crosssector_working.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 Kaye McIntosh 14 August 2008 14:35 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/bp_sandon_high_school_resized_150_tcm16-1797587.jpg Reports of abandoned cars across England have fallen 72% in the past four years, new LGA figures show. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/abandoned_car_numbers_crash.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/abandoned_car_numbers_crash.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 Robin Latchem 12 August 2008 12:39 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/cropped-abandoned-car2_resized_70_tcm16-1796265.jpg Fifteen local authorities are being backed in a month-long campaign to tackle chewing gum litter. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/chewing_gum_campaign_unwrapped.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/chewing_gum_campaign_unwrapped.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 Robin Latchem 11 August 2008 08:32 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/cropped-chewing-gum_resized_70_tcm16-1794738.jpg Three tiers of local government in Buckinghamshire have agreed a deal on working together to meet local community needs. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/bucks_agrees_threetier_pathfinder_deal.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/bucks_agrees_threetier_pathfinder_deal.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 Robin Latchem 08 August 2008 15:19 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/cropped-Edmonds-Michael_resized_70_tcm16-1794220.jpg Proposals on how councils address local concerns and how to give councillors more flexibility are to be explored by Hazel Blears. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/flint_launches_council_consultation.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/flint_launches_council_consultation.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 Robin Latchem 08 August 2008 09:00 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/Hazel%20Headshots%20005_resized_70_tcm16-90326.jpg Regulatory services such as trading standards and health and safety are being given new advice to boost councils' contribution to the development and delivery of local area agreements. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/new_council_guide_for_laas.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/new_council_guide_for_laas.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 Robin Latchem 06 August 2008 08:27 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/Constuction%20safety%20sign_resized_70_tcm16-159267.jpg Crime headlines may dominate the press, but less-publicised action is making a difference. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/08/back_from_the_edge.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/08/back_from_the_edge.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 Kathy Oxtoby 06 August 2008 11:21 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/bp_prison_alamy_resized_150_tcm16-1791074.jpg A senior highways engineer has been speaking about his relief work after the Burma cyclone. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/08/council_mans_harrowing_work_in_burma.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/08/council_mans_harrowing_work_in_burma.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 Robin Latchem 05 August 2008 08:19 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/burma_cyclone_resized_150_tcm16-1789062.jpg Three councils that have turned ‘empowerment’ and 'engagement’ into reality. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/07/meaningful_engagement.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/07/meaningful_engagement.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 Mark Faithful 30 July 2008 12:35 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/bp_chorley_main_resized_150_tcm16-1769430.jpg Councils are overcoming problems with local strategic partnerships and local area agreements. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/07/reversing_decline.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/07/reversing_decline.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 Kathy Oxtoby 23 July 2008 11:35 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/bp_wakefield_resized_150_tcm16-1739679.jpg Creating and maintaining public spaces are two of councils’ most important responsibilities. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/07/better_public_places.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/07/better_public_places.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 Nick Triggle 09 July 2008 12:24 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/bp_south_park_resized_150_tcm16-1703521.jpg Councils' wellbeing schemes are helping to reduce health inequalities. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/07/shrinking_the_gap.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/07/shrinking_the_gap.html;jsessionid=CF690155CE80F70FFAE80DDC25962221 Kathy Oxtoby 02 July 2008 12:06 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/bp_jamie_oliver_resized_150_tcm16-1678483.jpg