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Inside Out

Inside Out

Local Government Chronicle
August 2009 - online articles

View all stories from this issue.

  • 20 August 2009 swine flu update

    This week there has been a further reduction in the rates of flu-like illness and related activity.

  • A (H1N1) Swine Influenza: Launch of the National Pandemic Flu Service

    I wrote to you on 16 July to explain our decision to stand up the National Pandemic Flu Service (NPFS). The Service has been launched in England today.

  • A (H1N1) Swine Influenza: Standing up the National Pandemic Flu Service

    In recognition of the increasing levels of flu consultations with GPs and the need to be able to give antivirals to increasing numbers of people quickly, Secretary of State for Health Andy Burnham has today agreed to stand up the National Pandemic Flu Service (NPFS). This will be with effect from the end of next week in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland do not yet need to use the National Pandemic Flu Service. This situation is being kept under constant review and they will be abl

  • Advice concerning organ donation and H1N1

    As the incidence of Swine Flu increases in the population, there is a risk that organ donors may be infected, or have infection suspected. In general, organs from potential donors should be offered. The decision to accept and use an organ for transplantation lies with the implanting surgeon with local microbiological advice (in conjunction with informed consent from the recipient).

  • AIDS spending 'needs clear vision'

    Half of all councils are spending their share of a £22m grant to support people with HIV without a clear vision of local needs, a charity has warned.

  • Allotment demand at all-time high

    Demand for allotments is at an all-time high with some waiting lists decades-long, research has found.

  • Authorisation of the supply of antivirals

    Ian Dalton, National Director for NHS Flu Resilience, has written jointly with the Royal College of GPs and the BMA’s General Practitioners Committee to all GPs to confirm the revised procedure for authorising the supply of antivirals from antiviral collection points.

  • Baby P father renews threat to sue

    The father of Baby P has repeated his threat to sue Haringey LBC over the youngster’s tragic death and is believed to be seeking £200,000.

  • Barnet pushes on with welfare rights closure

    Flagship Tory council Barnet LBC is set to push ahead with plans to close its award-winning welfare rights unit in a bid to save £180,000 a year.

  • Barnet's 'budget airline' proposals grab the front pages

    Barnet LBC have hit the front pages by branding its restructuring plans as akin to a budget airline business model.

  • Bedford's elected mayor dies

    Bedford’s elected mayor Frank Branston has died, aged 70.

  • Beecham hits out at Pickles

    Sir Jeremy Beecham has hit out at Conservative Party chairman Eric Pickles’ assertion that the position of council chief executive could be abolished.

  • 'Bigot' row Tory finally wins LGA role

    London Assembly member Brian Coleman has succeeded in taking the helm of the LGA’s Fire Services Forum, one year after accusing “homophobic, bigoted old farts” of denying him the opportunity.

  • Birmingham defends swine flu claims

    Birmingham City Council has rejected suggestions that local business communities are not being helped to cope with swine flu.

  • Birmingham names Amey in roads contract

    Birmingham City Council has selected Amey as its preferred bidder for its £2.7bn, 25-year contract to repair and maintain roads.

  • Birmingham wins race for Usain Bolt

    Birmingham City Council has won the race to play host to the fastest man on earth when the Olympic Games come to the UK in 2012.

  • Bromsgrove council reduces complaints by half

    Tagish, which is rapidly emerging as a UK market leader for complaints and customer feedback IT systems, has helped Bromsgrove Council to achieve a 50% drop in complaints about refuse collection.

  • BT to provide a voice for Norfolk

    BT today announced that it has signed two contracts, worth a combined value of £40.2 million, to provide voice and data services to Norfolk County Council, as well as a managed internet service to more than 450 schools in Norfolk.

  • Bus services referred to commission

    The Office of Fair Trading has referred the supply of local bus services to the Competition Commission over evidence that limited competition may be leading to higher prices.

  • By-election row engulfs Tendring

    A power struggle following the death of a councillor could leave taxpayers with a bill for tens of thousands of pounds, the leader of a split council has claimed.

  • Call for tighter controls on surveillance

    The Liberal Democrats are calling for tighter controls on surveillance powers for authorities including councils and the police.

  • Call to boost affordable rural housing

    Plans to guarantee affordable housing supply in English rural areas do not go far enough, according to the Countryside Alliance.

  • Call to cut PFI interest rates

    Banks bailed out by the government charge unjustifiably high interest rates for private finance initiative projects, an academic study has claimed.

  • Call to extend Crossrail tariff

    The Major of London is being called on to change plans to charge new office developments in the capital to fund Crossrail developments.

  • Call to rethink children's hearings

    The Scottish Government has been urged to reconsider changes to the children’s hearing system described by one children’s panel chair as “unwelcome, unwanted and unnecessary”.

  • Cambridge's upbeat tune over festival

    Cambridge City Council’s internationally-known music festival is back in profit after problems in 2008

  • Changed approach to managing the swine flu pandemic

    As you will be aware, on 11 June the World Health Organisation raised its alert level to 6, recognising that A(H1N1) swine flu has spread to pandemic levels around the globe.

  • Chief Execs' expenses under scrutiny

    The expenses of council chief executives have come under the spotlight following Freedom of Information requests into their claims over the past four years.

  • Children missing out on free lunches

    One in five parents on low income are said to be unaware their children are entitled to free school dinners worth up to £700 a year.

  • City objects to airport plans

    Bristol City Council has formally objected to £150m expansion plans for the region’s airport.

  • Civica keeps traffic moving

    London Borough of Redbridge has selected Civica to upgrade their digital CCTV systems.

  • Clegg seeks ideas for savings

    The Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has launched a website where people who work with taxpayers’ money can submit suggestions on how to cut waste in the public sector.

  • ContactPoint: 'an idiotic choice'

    ContactPoint is a classic Government behemoth - according to the Conservatives’ shadow children’s minster Tim Loughton in this article commissioned by LGC. He is responding to an item backing the project by DCSF minister Delyth Morgan.

  • Contract for London bike scheme

    Serco has been selected by Transport for London (TfL) to run the capital’s cycle hire scheme across nine of the most central boroughs.

  • Copeland prepares for advisers

    Copeland Borough Council is preparing to brief councillors on how external advisers will be assisting officers in implementing its ‘Choosing To Change’ programme.

  • Corby Borough Council: appeal against High Court judgment

    Corby Borough Council has decided to appeal against the judgement in the case of children who claimed that their birth defects were caused by toxins released into the atmosphere during reclamation works on a former British Steel site.

  • Corby considering negligence appeal

    The council found liable for negligence relating to children’s disabilities caused by a steel works is to decide whether to appeal against the High Court ruling.

  • Corby to appeal negligence verdict

    Corby Borough Council is to appeal against the High Court ruling that it was negligent in the redevelopment of the former steel works in the town.

  • Corby's clean-up legal bill is £1.6m

    Corby Borough Council has been ordered to pay families affected by the clean-up of former steelworks in the town an initial £1.6m to cover legal fees.

  • Cornwall responds over airport closure

    Cornwall Council has responded to a critical report on the temporary closure of Newquay airport last year by repeating its apology for disruption to passengers, airlines and to local businesses.

  • Cosla rejects CBI finance claims

    Councils in Scotland have accused business leaders of being out of touch in suggesting the authorities are not being tough enough in controlling their costs.

  • Council accused over sunbeds

    The British Medical Association has accused a council of “dragging its feet” over removing sunbeds from its leisure centres.

  • Council apology over 'unacceptable language'

    Redbridge LBC has apologised after a spreadsheet containing the word ‘paki’ was distributed to staff.

  • Council backs police car theft tactics

    A London council is backing police shock tactics that involve removing items left in unlocked cars to stop motorists making the same mistake twice.

  • Council concern over £360m development

    Councillors in Belfast have appealed for an update on the planned £360m Royal Exchange development after fears that little progress has been made over the last year.

  • Council considers film smoking rule

    Films on show at cinemas that portray people smoking could be restricted to adult-only viewing under proposals being considered by Liverpool City Council.

  • Council criticised over file tampering

    Rochdale Borough Council has defended itself over a damning report that accuses its youth offending team of tampering with case files.

  • Council cuts back on its local newspaper

    Lancashire County Council is reported to be saving nearly £300,000 by cutting back on council-funded local newspapers.

  • Council defends Cannes business trip

    Birmingham City Council has rejected claims it spent more than £200,000 on a trip to Cannes in an attempt to drum up business for the city.

  • Council defends disclosing waste accounts

    Nottinghamshire County Council has been criticised for making accounts relating to a £850m waste management contract open to public inspection.

  • Council denies plan to pay private school fees

    A Conservative council says it has no plans to help out-of-work parents pay private school fees

  • Council drops sunbeds over cancer fears

    Wiltshire Council plans to remove all sunbeds from its leisure centres over fears they cause cancer.

  • Council invests in prevention plan

    Northamptonshire County Council has put £1.3m into setting up eight pilot schemes in adult social care needs.

  • Council leader resigns following arrest

    The leader of Eden District Council has resigned following his arrest as part of a fraud investigation.

  • Council rejects 'illegal camera' claims

    Manchester City Council has rejected claims it is illegally raising revenue by using public surveillance cameras to catch out motorists.

  • Council seeks first use of infrastucture levy

    Mid Devon District Council is seeking approval to be the first authority to implement the community infrastructure levy.

  • Council sorry for losing personal details

    A county council has apologised after losing the personal information of more than 70 children during a trip.

  • Council takes Lockerbie bail responsibility

    East Renfrewshire Council has confirmed it will be responsible for monitoring the bail conditions of the released Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi.

  • Council wins battle for swim centre

    Plymouth City Council has persuaded Sport England to withdraw objections to a £46.5m Olympic-standard swimming centre.

  • Councillors 'more truthful' than MPs

    The public feels local councillors are more likely to be truthful than local MPs, according to research carried out for Standards for England.

  • Council's cuts hit by legal fight

    Part of a council’s package of £40m cuts has been stalled by legal action over the planned closure of a home for elderly people.

  • Councils 'failing over swine flu'

    A small business lobby group claims local authorities are failing in their duty to help firms prepare for swine flu.

  • Councils' jobs outlook 'depressing'

    The jobs picture in local government looks “particularly depressing”, a new survey has warned.

  • Councils look to waste partnership

    Four councils are considering whether they can work together to deliver waste and recycling services.

  • Councils lose out on £4bn as jobs go

    Councils have been hit by a £4bn deficit in income over the last two financial years - and 7,000 jobs have gone in the past six months.

  • Councils' mental health absence rises

    Councils are being warned of a fall in productivity due to a rise in mental health problems among local government workers.

  • Councils move to paperless offices

    Councils are increasingly moving to enterprise-wide paperless offices as they seek more efficient and cost effective ways to deliver high quality public services under the current economic conditions, and to assist in combating climate change.

  • Councils rebuff free swimming plan - again

    Two councils have rebuffed another government attempt to get them to provide free swimming, warning the controversial scheme would leave them in deep water financially.

  • Councils will face recession's 'second wave'

    Councils have been told to brace themselves for a ‘second wave’ of recession-related costs and pressures, with responsibility for escalating social problems likely to fall at local government’s door.   

  • Councils win Heathrow runway review

    A group of councils opposed to Heathrow expansion have been told they can challenge the Government’s decision to approve a third runway at the airport.

  • Counter-terror programme 'flawed'

    A key strand of the Government’s current counter-extremism programme is dividing communities and should be dropped in favour of further cohesion work, according to a new report.

  • County's growing demand for children's care

    Northamptonshire County Council faces a projected overspend of £4.4m in its Children & Young People’s directorate - 80% of which is attributable to an increase in demand on social care services for children, young people and families.

  • CQC raises concerns over South Tyneside

    The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has raised concerns over South Tyneside Council’s ability to improve its safeguarding of vulnerable adults.

  • Culture guide for BSF projects

    New guidance to help local authorities understand and harness the role that culture can play in transforming education has been published by Partnerships for Schools.

  • Cumbria chief to retire

    Cumbria CC chief executive Peter Stybelski is stepping down from the post to take early retirement on the grounds of ill health.

  • DCLG 'faces £285m Euro fine'

    Regeneration projects could be axed after it emerged ministers face £285m worth of fines for “financial irregularities” relating to European-funded projects, the Conservatives have said.   

  • Deal signed on county's BSF programme

    Contracts have been signed on a £500m deal under Durham County Council’s Building Schools for the Future programme.

  • Denham call for probe on CEO pay offs

    Ministers have pledged to go after council chief executives who leave their posts with a big pay off after a row with members and then re-surface in a similarly paid job just weeks later.

  • E.coli scare chip shop was 'zero' rated

    A chip shop at the centre of a suspected E.coli outbreak received a ‘zero’ rating when it was inspected by council hygiene staff a year ago.

  • Economic assessment guidelines unveiled

    Guidelines for local economic strategies, which councils will have a statutory duty to prepare from next year, have been published by ministers.

  • Edinburgh tram dispute continues

    The consortium hired to build the tram system in Edinburgh is believed to require more money to fill a cash shortfall in the project.

  • Ekosgen appointed to Irwell City Park project

    Economic development and regeneration consultancy Ekosgen has been appointed to advise on the delivery of Irwell City Park.

  • Enfield backs bail hostel deal

    A council with a large number of bail hostels has welcomed the agreement giving local government a say where such accommodation is located.

  • English electoral reviews kick off

    The Boundary Committee for England has begun the first round of public consultation on electoral reviews in Stoke-on-Trent, Mansfield, Central Bedfordshire and Bedford.

  • Essex in bid to seize quangos' powers

    Essex CC has officially submitted plans to use the Sustainable Communities Act to seize powers from unelected quangos.

  • Ex-council chief exec quits top health post

    A former council chief executive, forced from office after exposing a leader’s criminal misconduct, has quit a senior health role and called for an investigation into the behaviour of a strategic health authority.

  • Exercise Cold Play II

    Exercise Cold Play II is a Department of Health (DH) funded exercise designed as an ‘off the shelf’ package for use by health organisations and partner organisations within the UK. It has been developed from experience gained in previous pandemic influenza exercises and is intended to provide a generic format which can be adapted to suit the selected target audience. This exercise has been updated from the original Cold Play to ensure it is in-line with the Department of Health Pandemic Influ

  • Ex-leader ordered to repay expenses claim

    A former leader of a London council must pay back over £2,000 of expenses claims for trips that had already been paid for.

  • Extra flood money for councils

    Local communities across England are to get £16m to help tackle surface water flooding.

  • Few PPCs have frontline sector experience

    Fewer than one in seven parliamentary candidates from the major parties at the next election have experience of frontline public services, a survey has revealed.

  • Film boost for straitened councils

    Council film officers are reporting a boom in enquiries from production companies in what is seen as evidence that the film industry is bucking the downward trend during the recession.

  • Final salary pensions to go?

    Public sector workers could lose their final salary pension rights because of the big shortfall in the value of the pension funds, according to The Times.

  • Fire report slams Decent Homes Programme

    Social housing renovated under the Decent Homes Programme could still have inadequate fire protection measures, a report into the recent fire in Camberwell has found

  • Fly-tipper swatted by council staff

    A fly-tipper has been caught out by poor planning: dumping waste under the noses of council staff in their offices.

  • Frank Branston - a tribute

    Frank Branston was a unique and larger than life character who will be remembered as a great servant to the people of Bedford.

  • Fresh push on free swimming

    Councils that only offer free swimming sessions to pensioners have been given another chance to bid for Government cash to extend the opportunity to under-16s.

  • Grants to fight town centre blight

    Areas hit hardest by the recession are getting a share of £3m to find creative ways of reducing the negative impact that empty shops are having on the High Street.

  • GSK: 'rapid progress' on swine flu vaccine

    Drugs company GlaxoSmithKline has said it is making “rapid progress” on its swine flu vaccine.

  • Hanningfield warning on budget

    The leader of Essex County Council has said the authority will face a deficit of as much as £300m within five years if it does not tackle its budget.

  • HCA boss quits to join Stoke

    Homes & Communities Agency head of environmental policy Jane Forshaw will this week take up a senior post at Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

  • Important information about swine flu

    This leaflet contains important information to help you and your family - KEEP IT SAFE

  • Inflation figures bolster pay-freeze calls

    The latest inflation figures highlight the onset of public sector pay freezes, according to a key source of labour market information.

  • Inquiry call over Cardiff's staff sickness

    An opposition councillor is demanding an inquiry after figures showed Cardiff Council paid out more than £52m in salary costs for sick employees over three years.

  • Inspectors go into Copeland

    Government inspectors are being called in to a troubled council to help officers and staff to improve performance and deliver better services.

  • Inspiring Communities projects named

    Projects sharing a £10m fund to help young people from poorer communities to unlock their talents have been named.

  • Lambeth issues Test match tout warning

    Lambeth LBC is preparing to target touts trying to cash in on the vital Ashes cricket match this week

  • Lancashire drops 'Labour' rose

    Lancashire’s iconic red rose logo has been updated by the new Conservative leadership - unhappy that the previous one looked too much like Labour’s rose.

  • Leader rapped over 'abandoned' car

    A council leader who left his untaxed car in a council car park for three months faces a local standards board hearing in September.

  • Leader survives second no confidence vote

    North East Lincolnshire Council’s leader has survived a second knife edge no-confidence vote over his authority’s handling of its Icelandic bank investments.

  • Leeds City Council in bin strike talks

    Talks are being held to avert a strike by 600 council refuse collectors and street cleaners in Leeds after negotiations over pay ground to a halt.

  • Leeds United asks council for loan

    Leeds United has asked the city council for a loan of £6m to buy back the club’s training ground.

  • Legal doubts hit council's bank plans

    Birmingham City Council’s original plans to set up a municipal bank are unworkable due to the legal confusion surrounding councils’ ability to act in the interest of their areas, councillors have claimed.

  • Leicester's community work praised

    Leicester has been highlighted as a positive example of how to get communities to work together.

  • Letter to Social Care Reference Group

    As you may be aware, I have recently been appointed as National Director, Social Care Flu Resilience. In my new role, I will be working closely with Professor Lindsey Davies, National Director Pandemic Preparedness, and Ian Dalton, National Director NHS Flu Resilience. I will be concentrating my efforts on supporting social care by working to:Build capacity and resilience across all sectorsEnsure we are working closely with health colleagues nationally, regionally and loc

  • LGA concern at school uniform costs

    Schools are being urged by the Local Government Association to make sure parents can shop around for school uniforms.

  • LGA unveils new board chairs

    District Councils Network chairman Gary Porter and Kensington & Chelsea RBC councillor Shireen Ritchie (both Con) have been confirmed as the two new public faces of the Local Government Association.

  • London lands cultural services boost

    The London Cultural Improvement Programme (LCIP) has received a £900,000 cash injection aimed at ensuring the continued improvement of the lives of local people.

  • London parking tickets fall

    Nearly 5.5 million parking tickets were issued in London between April 2008 and March 2009 - a fall of more than 10%.

  • Lovell and Maple Grove for £35m Skipton development

    Affordable housing and regeneration specialist Lovell and Maple Grove Developments have been chosen by Craven District Council as preferred partner for a £35 million scheme to develop new homes and shops in Skipton, North Yorkshire.

  • Mallon fails in TV programme complaint

    Middlebrough’s mayor Ray Mallon has failed in a complaint that a TV programme unfairly branded the town the worst place to live in the UK.

  • Manager quits after 38 years - by email

    A council manager with 38 years’ service has announced her resignation by an email sent to hundreds of colleagues.

  • Manchester Airport dismisses Ryanair cuts

    Manchester Airport has claimed budget airline Ryanair’s decision to withdraw nine of its 10 Manchester routes is “highly unlikely” to damage the travel hub’s financial position.

  • Mayrise gets Gloucestershire mobile

    South Gloucestershire Council is using handheld devices powered by Mayrise software to improve the co-ordination of street works and assist with safety inspections.

  • Merseyside docks regeneration approved

    Plans for the first phase of Merseyside’s answer to the London Docklands development have secured planning approval.

  • Migrant workers' wage bar 'should be raised'

    Employers should be forced to raise the minimum pay offered to migrant workers from outside the European Union, according to the Government’s Migration Advisory Committee.

  • Minister: Why we need ContactPoint

    My department is publishing the results of a survey of more than 6,000 practitioners - the results clearly demonstrate why we need ContactPoint.

  • Murdered child 'invisible' to agencies

    A serious case review in Kirklees following the death of a two-year-old girl has concluded she was ‘largely invisible’ to staff addressing the needs of others in the family.

  • My holiday reading - and why

    Members of LGC’s viewpoint panel shift their attention from local government to tell us what they chose for their summer holiday reading.

  • NEET figures show rise in dropouts

    The number of young people classified as NEET – not in employment, education or training - has risen for the third quarter in a row, according to new Government statistics.

  • New boss for failing Welsh council

    A failing north Wales council has appointed a managing director after a damning report by the Auditor General said it had a long history of being poorly run.

  • New chair for architecture watchdog

    Architectural journalist Paul Finch has been appointed the new chair of the government’s built environment watchdog.

  • New contracts lift Serco profits 33%

    Service group Serco has reported a 33% rise in pre-tax profits after winning a record level of contracts.

  • New directors at Standards for England

    Standards for England has appointed Steve Barrow as Director of Standards and Vivienne Horton as Director of Risk.

  • New guidance on community cohesion

    Cohesion Minister Shahid Malik has called on councils to put community cohesion at the heart of their services.

  • Newspapers complain about council publications

    The Newspaper Society has written to Local Government minister Rosie Winterton over concerns that council publications compete with local media for readers and advertising revenue.

  • Norfolk signs £40m deal with BT

    Norfolk County Council has signed two contracts with BT, worth a total of £40.2m, for voice and data services and an internet service for more than 450 schools.

  • North Tyneside unveils jobs cull

    North Tyneside Council is seeking voluntary redundancies in a move to cut up to 300 jobs.

  • North Tyneside's £14m black hole

    North Tyneside Council is facing a £14m black hole in its capital expenditure budget and may have to hike its council tax to cover the shortfall.

  • Nottingham fails to address staff concerns

    Nottingham City Council is failing to fully address staff concerns about the way the authority is managed, according to a mixed assessment published recently.

  • Nottinghamshire waste case decision delayed

    A judge has delayed his ruling on a legal row between a local authority and its waste management company.

  • ONS reveals sector in black for Q2 2009

    Local government paid back or lent £4.1bn in the second quarter this year, leaving the sector’s ‘current account’ in the black for that period, according to official statistics.

  • Osborne pledges public sector reform

    Far-reaching public-sector reforms have been pledged by the Conservatives as the only way to tackle the mounting debt crisis without imposing cuts in frontline services.

  • Outsourcer botches council tax collection

    East Riding of Yorkshire Council has told residents they will be reimbursed for any costs incurred after a bureaucratic blunder led to council tax being collected early.

  • Oxford wind turbine plans revealed

    Oxford City Council says it is the first council in England and Wales to launch proposals for a commercial-scale wind turbine on its land.

  • Pandemic flu: managing demand and capacity in health care organisations (surge)

    Pandemic influenza will be a widespread, rising-tide phenomenon threatening to overwhelm health and social care services in the UK, and necessitating changes to the scope and delivery of health and social care.

  • Parents of disabled children miss out

    Care and family support services are not being accessed by nearly three-quarters of parents who have disabled children, according to research.

  • Pavement injuries costing millions

    Trip injuries on uneven pavements are costing councils millions of pounds in injury compensation, it has been revealed.

  • Pensioners face losing bus passes

    Middle class pensioners face being stripped of their free bus passes, according to reports.

  • Personalisation programme launched

    A charity that works in partnership with families, individuals, services, local authorities has launched a support programme for commissioners and service providers to meet the challenges of personalisation.

  • Photo card to fight property fraud

    Harrow Council is to crack down on property fraud by introducing photo identification for anyone who applies to become a council tenant.

  • Pickles: Chief executives should be axed

    Conservative Party chairman Eric Pickles believes post of council chief executive should be abolished, it has been reported.

  • PM 'seeking top earners' pay restraint'

    Pay restraint among top earners in the public sector is said to be one of the key points expected in the Prime Minister’s address to the TUC in September.

  • Police force's 'dire financial' plight

    Scotland’s biggest police force is said to be in a “dire financial situation” with a possible decifit of nearly £35m.

  • Prescott blasts wind farm 'nimbys'

    People who oppose wind turbines near their homes - and councils that back them up - have been the focus of a scathing attack by former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

  • Private sector 'best for skills shortage'

    More than 80% of public sector organisations believe skills shortages would best be filled by private sector workers, according to a new survey.

  • Public sector 'inefficiency' costing £58.4bn

    Decreasing public sector productivity is costing taxpayers £58.4bn a year, according to a thinktank.

  • Recession cuts council's refuse demand

    Belfast City Council has said less waste is being thrown away as residents try to make their resources stretch further during the recession.

  • Refuse workers to strike saying talks are over

    Hundreds of council refuse collectors and street cleaners are to go on strike after union leaders said talks aimed at resolving a row over pay broke down.

  • Regeneration firm loses council funding

    The withdrawal of council funding from a West Midlands urban regeneration company is threatening the future of the firm.

  • Regional strategies consultation launched

    Proposals on how regions should prepare new style Regional Strategies and new local authority Leaders Boards have been published for consultation by the communities department.

  • Report notes learning disability growth

    The number of adults in Scotland diagnosed with learning disabilities has increased by 10% in a year, according to a new report.

  • Respect heads citizenship survey

    Respect for the law, tolerance and politeness towards others top the list of values in the latest DCLG Citizenship Survey.

  • Rise in latest new homes figures

    The number of new homes under construction in England and Wales jumped by two-thirds in the last quarter, according to new government statistics.

  • Runnymede's new chief executive

    The new chief executive of Runnymede Borough Council is preparing to take up his post.

  • School truancy rates on the rise

    Almost 3.9 million days of school were skipped by children during the spring term, official figures have shown.

  • Senior Carlisle managers agree to leave

    Six senior managers at Carlisle City Council have agreed to take voluntary redundancy as the authority implements its transformation plan.

  • Sheffield launches mayor consultation

    Sheffield City Council has launched a consultation on whether local people want their cabinet led by a council leader or a mayor.

  • Sheffield responds to Corus cuts

    Sheffield City Council is to spearhead a campaign to protect manufacturing in the city.

  • Shoesmith legal challenge is fast-tracked

    Former Haringey LBC director of children’s services Sharon Shoesmith will have the legal challenge to her sacking fast-tracked, according to reports.

  • Social worker struck off over porn ruse

    A council worker who bribed teenage girls under the authority’s care to attend nude and lingerie photo shoots has been struck off the General Social Care Council register.

  • Southend-on-Sea embrace Civica

    Civica has been selected to deliver an electronic document and workflow technology transformation as part of Southend-on-Sea’s corporate transformation project to save £15m.

  • Statements after Kirklees Serious Case Review

    Statements on behalf of Karen Hemsworth, vice chair of Kirklees Safeguarding Children Board and assistant director for Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults, NHS Kirklees, and Alison O’Sullivan, director for Children & Young People, Kirklees Council

  • Stoke outlines plans for member cull

    Stoke-on-Trent City Council has unveiled plans to cut its councillor headcount from 60 to between 52 and 56, following a review by the Governance Commission.

  • Stoke unveils BSF bidders

    Stoke-on-Trent City Council has unveiled the two selected bidders for its £250m Building Schools for the Future programme.

  • Survey highlights information demands

    A survey of 6,000 children’s services professionals has highlighted the time staff spend tracking down key information on vulnerable youngsters.

  • Sustainable communities bids listed

    Nearly 300 proposals have been submitted by around 85 councils under the first round of the Sustainable Communities Act.

  • Swine flu pandemic: from containment to treatment - guidance for the NHS

    This guidance seeks to:provide the NHS with a clear explanation of the rationale for the decision taken on 2nd July 2009 by Health Ministers across the UK to move from containment to treatment nationally;set out clearly the Department of Health’s expectations of the NHS and the roles and responsibilities of each part of the system over the coming months; andexplain the support being made available to the NHS and frontline staff to ensure the Service is as prepare

  • Swine flu: from containment to treatment

    As Swine Flu spreads and more people start to catch it, it makes sense to move from intensive efforts to contain the virus to focusing efforts on treating the increasing number of people who have the disease.

  • Swine flu: from containment to treatment - scientific issues

    The antiviral strategy aims to provide prompt treatment for all those with symptoms of A(H1N1) (pandemic swine flu) infection. As well as minimising symptoms and shortening the period for which people are ill, the strategy aims to minimise the risks of people developing complications or dying from A(H1N1) infection.

  • Swine flu: Letter to Directors of Adult Social Services

    This is my first note to you since taking up the role of National Director for Social Care Flu Resilience in England earlier this month. There are some key actions that Directors of Adult Social Services needs to be taking now.

  • Swine flu: UK planning assumptions

    These planning assumptions relate to the current A(H1N1) epidemic and are appropriate for the first wave. They provide a common agreed basis for planning across all public and private sector organisations. Working to this common set of assumptions will avoid confusion and facilitate preparedness across the UK.

  • Tackling anti-social behaviour

    World record Olympic hurdler David Hemery will mount a different podium next month when he talks about sport at a national conference on young people and anti-social behaviour.

  • Tories consider reduction in PCTs

    The number of primary care trusts in England could be significantly reduced under Conservative health plans, it is reported.

  • Tourism boss mounts fourth plinth as a pigeon

    The biggest pigeon seen in London’s Trafalgar Square has been City of Bradford MDC’s tourism chief Jane Glaister

  • Tragic anniversary sparks reform call

    Public sector union Unison has marked the second anniversary of Baby Peter’s tragic death to call on councils give social workers the time they need to do their jobs properly.

  • TSA consultation launched

    A consultation on the powers the Tenant Services Authority (TSA), will wield over local authorities has been launched.

  • Union warns of a 'Granny P' tragedy

    An adult social services outrage on a par with the Baby P tragedy is bound to happen without urgent reform to the current system, Britain’s largest public-sector union has warned.

  • Unions warn against five-year pay freeze

    Union leaders have hit out at possible plans by council leaders to impose a five-year pay freeze on Scottish council workers.

  • White Lights are the Green Future

    Wigan MBC is one of a fast-growing number of local authorities committed to initiatives that save energy; reduce CO2 emissions and also save council tax payers money.

  • Why ContactPoint is wrong

    The Liberal Democrats have always opposed the ContactPoint Database and would like to see it scrapped.

  • Workless homes 'highest in a decade'

    The number of households in the UK where no adult has a job is the highest in a decade.

  • Wrexham makes quick change to Whale/Econ demount system

    Demand for the Whale/Econ gully emptier continues to remain buoyant, Wrexham County Borough Council being one of the latest local authorities seeking to utilise the quick change demountable vehicle system that has been jointly developed by Whale Tankers and Econ Engineering – two of the UK’s leading specialist vehicle producers.

  • York to back a car-free day

    The City of York Council in conjunction with businesses in the area has launched an initiative to try to reduce traffic congestion in the city.

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