Local Government Chronicle
13 November 2003
View all stories from this issue.
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£1.7M BOOST TO SUPPORT WITNESSES OF CRIME
A£1.7m grant for video suites in police forces to allow ... -
£3M FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AT RISK
A£3m package of government funding is to help join up services for young people at risk. ... -
£500M SET ASIDE FOR RENEWAL PATHFINDERS, SAYS PRESCOTT
By LGCnet political correspondent Robert Hedley ... -
ACCUSED TEACHER FOUND HANGED
A teacher was found hanged just days after being accused of slapping a teenage pupil at Rothesay Academy, on the Is... -
ADULT EDUCATION SECTOR CHALLENGED 'TO TAKE A STEP CHANGE IN QUALITY'
The country's most comprehensive annual report on the standard of learning offered to young trainees and adults in ... -
ALL SCOTTISH COUNCILS TO UNDERGO NEW BEST VALUE AUDIT
Every council in Scotland will undergo a new in-depth audit over the next three years, the Accounts Commission anno... -
ANALYSIS - HASKINS SINGS THE CENTRALIST BLUES
By Mithran Samuel, political correspondent ... -
ATHEISTS LOSE ON FARE DEALS
An Audit Commission education officer has admitted cash-strapped councils cannot provide the same access to subsidi... -
BAN ON B+B ACCOMMODATION FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES WELCOMED
Shelter today welcomed the new government ban* on housing homeless ... -
BEST VALUE KICKS OFF IN SCOTLAND
By Kerry Lorimer ... -
BIRMINGHAM MEMBER SHOPS HIMSELF
A Birmingham councillor has reported himself to the Standards Board for England in what is believd to be the first ... -
BLACKBURN NAMES TOWN PARTNER
Blackburn with Darwen BC has named Inpartnership/ Bovis Lend Lease as its preferred strategic development partner f... -
BLACKPOOL LEADS THE WAY IN BENEFIT REFORM
Blackpool is at the forefront of a radical reform of housing support ... -
BUSINESS BONANZA PROMISED IN BUDGET
By Kerry Lorimer ... -
CARMARTHENSHIRE'S MUNICIPAL SERVICES ARE 'FAIR'
The municipal services service run by Carmarthenshire CC is 'fair with promising prospects for improvement' accordi... -
CHANCELLOR'S SPEECH TO BUSINESS LEADERS
Text of a speech made today by chancellor Gordon Brown at the national conference of the Confederation of British I... -
CHANGES NEEDED TO BUS REGULATION, ADMITS MINISTER
By LGCnet political correspondent Robert Hedley ... -
CHANGING GEAR TO DELIVER ON THE PROMISES OF SECURING HEALTH TOGETHER
Minister for work, Des Browne, today provided commitment from the ... -
CHARITIES WELCOME REPEAL OF SECTION 28
The National Children's Bureau (NCB) and the Sex Education Forum have ... -
CHILD ABUSE VICTIM DEMANDS CHARITY DONATION FROM HODGE
Children's minister Margaret Hodge has until today to make a public apology and a five-figure donation to charity o... -
CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS MEET WITH MASSIVE APPROVAL
Jacqui Smith, deputy minister for women and euality, revealed ... -
COMMENT - CHEQUERED PAST LEADS TO A NEW DAWN OF PENSIONS
No one needs reminding that those involved in council pensions are struggling to negate the effects of three years ... -
COMMENT - MONOLITHIC MODEL WILL WRECK CHILD SERVICES
Next week in the Queen's Speech the government is expected to legislate for the biggest shake-up in children's serv... -
COMMENT - PRIVATE LIFE
With the next round of actuarial valuations of local authority funds in England and Wales just around the corner yo... -
COMMENT ON PASSING OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE (COMMUNITY HEALTH AND STANDARDS) BILL
Speaking after the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill passed yesterday, King's Fund chief... -
CONSULTANCY FACILITATES JOINT OUTSOURCING PROJECT FOR TWO COUNCILS
Socitm Consulting has announced the successful completion of a ground-breaking partnership project by two councils.... -
CO-OPERATIVE COUNCIL ADDRESSES RESIDENTS' MOBILE PHONE MAST CONCERNS
A battling group of Kent residents has won a crucial legal victory in their campaign to halt the siting of a contro... -
COUNCIL AND NHS IN UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP BUDGET AGREEMENT
Oxfordshire CC Social and Health Care directorate has agreed a unique deal to ... -
COUNCIL CHALLENGED TO FUND PRIVATE SCHOOL FEES
A father is launching a legal action that could force councils to contribute to the cost of sending bright children... -
COUNCIL PIONEERS SCHEME TO USE GLASS WASTE FOR ROAD REPAIRS
Cumbria CC is pioneering the use of waste glass for road repairs in the north west of England. A contract to rebuil... -
COUNCIL SCOOPS E-TENDERING AWARDS
Leeds City Council's innovative electronic tendering system which allows ... -
COUNCIL TAX: 'IF YOU'RE POOR YOU PAY MORE '
Liberal Democrat ODPM shadow Edward Davey revealed today that across ... -
COUNCIL TO MAKE A STAND ON WINDFARMS
The leader of North Lincolnshire Council has today hit out at government plans on windfarms. He fears the rural nat... -
COUNCILS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS ELIGIBLE FOR GREEN SPACES CASH
By LGCnet political correspondent Robert Hedley ... -
COUNCIL'S CAPITAL STRATEGY RECEIVES HIGHEST POSSIBLE SCORE
Walsall MBC's capital strategy for the next five years has been declared `good' by the Government Office for the We... -
COUNCILS PLAY 'WAIT AND SEE' WITH EGOVERNMENT
- Latest snapshot of current state of local eGovernment ... -
CREATING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
New guidance for planning authorities, which will put the creation of ... -
CRIMINAL JUSTICE BILL RECEIVES ROYAL ASSENT
The Criminal Justice Bill, which represents the most significant ... -
CROYDON WINS PRAISE FOR OLDER PEOPLE'S SERVICES
Croydon's older people's services have been singled out for praise in a recent report from a government watchdog. T... -
CUMBRIA IN CHAOS OVER TOP JOBS
By Mark Smulian ... -
DIARY - TOULMIN SMITH
The aggressive behaviour of seagulls has been becoming a priority for some time. ... -
DISABLED PEOPLE ARE 'POOR RELATIONS' IN AD CAMPAIGNS
Advertisers are ignoring a significant - and lucrative - section of ... -
DISABLED WOMEN WHO SLEPT IN WHEELCHAIR COULD BE MOVED NEXT MONTH
A disabled woman who has slept in her wheelchair for more than a year after nurses stopped manually lifting her in ... -
EASTBOURNE MANAGEMENT REVIEW TO SAVE£120,000
At a specially-convened cabinet meeting councillors agreed to consult on a far-reaching and radical reassessment of... -
EMPLOYERS SEEK TO MINIMISE HARM FROM LONDON WEIGHTING STRIKES
Commenting on the continued strikes by members of Unison affecting some London councils, Ann John, chair of the emp... -
ENGLISH PARTNERSHIPS AND COUNCIL FORGE STRONG PARTNERSHIP IN PETERBOROUGH
National regeneration agency English Partnerships and Peterborough City ... -
ENTERPRISE SET TO TAKE OVER LIVERPOOL HOUSING REPAIRS
Liverpool City Council today welcomed news that Interserve are set to transfer their contract for council housing r... -
EXTRA SUPPORT FOR HEAD TEACHERS TO MANAGE BUDGETS
School standards minister David Miliband launched a new tool today to ... -
FAIR DEAL FOR COUNCIL HOUSING (ENGLAND)
New proposals to ensure better use of an allocation of£3.2bn ... -
FALMOUTH RESIDENTS WIN NATIONAL AWARD
An outstanding community regeneration project in Falmouth ... -
FATHER BEGINS LEGAL BID OVER 'GIFTED' GIRL
The father of a 'gifted' 14-year-old girl is taking legal action against Oxfordshire CC, claiming it failed to adeq... -
FEATURES - AFTER THE HONEYMOON
After the honeymoon period of the bull market, clients and managers need to work things out, says Andrew Peake ... -
FEATURES - CRACKING THE PRUDENTIAL CODE
Financial freedoms, changing legislation and the prudential code were the debates at a recent headline LGC conferen... -
FEATURES - DRAWING THE LINE
Scottish finance minister Andy Kerr is on the warpath against gossip about centralisation, says Kerry Lorimer ... -
FEATURES - EARN YOUR MONEY
Councils are attempting to add value to struggling pension funds with ... -
FEATURES - EXPOSING THE WEAKNESS
Housing benefit has become a major weakness for treasurers. But Bexley LBC may have found a way to strengthen its m... -
FEATURES - JOIN THE CLUB
LAPFF has enjoyed a colourful life, and it is now looking forward to an exciting new future, says Keith Bray ... -
FEATURES - PENSIONERS COME OUT TO PLAY AT THE DORCHESTER
The 10th annual PT Awards managed not only to raise a few laughs but also raised a few glasses to celebrate the suc... -
FEATURES - READ THE SMALLPRINT
Education teams have discovered a little-known power to set term dates - now 150 of them have agreed to an experime... -
FEATURES - SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE
Better IT systems will not necessarily save the lives of children at risk of abuse, but they will go a long way to ... -
FEATURES - WATCH YOUR STEP
Insurers are changing the rules, and treasurers must not slip up, says Jon Birkenhead ... -
FEATURES - YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!
Tying chief executives to their desks is one way of ensuring they do not move on, but many are still escaping and t... -
FIGHTING THE COLD WAR FOR PENSIONERS
A new and additional payment to help older people keep warm this ... -
FIRST HULL REPORT SLAMMED BY MP
An independent adjudicator has challenged the validity of the Audit Commission's first damning corporate governance... -
FLAT-RATE SCHOOL FUNDING WON'T HELP MOST DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN
The government's plans to avoid budget cuts in schools next year will not help the most disadvantaged children, acc... -
FREEDOMS FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Commencement Order for Local Government Act 2003 ... -
FUTURE OF CRYSTAL PALACE SPORTS CENTRE TIED IN WITH OLYMPIC BID
Bromley LBC and Sport England are in negotiations over the future of the ... -
GAVRON LOOKS TO GIVE WAY TO LIVINGSTONE
Labour candidate for the London mayoralty Nicky Gavron has confirmed she will step aside in favour of Ken Livingsto... -
GIANT DEAL LOOKS UNCERTAIN AFTER A THIRD OF PARTICIPANTS QUIT
e-government project is unravelling after losing a third of its participating councils. ... -
GLASGOW WINS COSLA VOTE WAR
By Kerry Lorimer ... -
GO-AHEAD FOR NEW CASINOS
A new generation of 'warehouse casinos' with£1m jackpot fruit machines will be given the go-ahead this week in the... -
GOVERNMENT GETS ITS FLAGSHIP BILLS - EVENTUALLY
By LGCnet political correspondent Robert Hedley ... -
GOVERNMENT ISSUES A STATUTORY DIRECTION TO HULL CITY COUNCIL
Local government minister Nick Raynsford has announced that following ... -
GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES NEW CAMPAIGN TO TACKLE GRAFFITI
Home Office minister, Hazel Blears, will tomorrow, launch a new government offensive against unsightly graffiti tag... -
GOVERNMENT POISED TO SELECT STANSTED RUNWAY
Ministers are close to choosing Stansted as the site of the first new runway in the south east, but are likely to l... -
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO ELECTORAL COMMISSION REPORT
The publication of the Electoral Commission report* on the 2003 elections was welcomed by minister for finance and ... -
GOVERNMENT TARGETS GRAFFITI TAGGERS
An offensive against unsightly and expensive graffiti tags was ... -
GOVERNMENT TO BAN USE OF SUITABLE B+B ACCOMMODATION
Homeless families will no longer have to bring up their children in ... -
GOVERNMENT URGED TO CONTINUE BUILDING ON SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH RDAs
Regional development agencies have performed well in their first four years, the National Audit Office reported tod... -
'GOVERNMENT'S PLEDGE TO MODERNISE MENTAL HEALTH CARE FAILING IN LONDON'
The government's pledge to modernise mental health services is failing in London, according to an 18-month inquiry ... -
HEALTH AND SAFETY STATISTICS FOR 2002-03
The Health and Safety Commission has today published the latest ... -
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE BILL: STATEMENT FROM THE HEALTH SECRETARY
Commenting on the fact that the Health and Social Care Bill passed ... -
HEALTH MINISTER RESPONDS TO MENTAL HEALTH REPORT
Responding to the NHS Confederation report 'Assessment of ... -
HEDGE FUND FORUM - SLEEP TIGHT
Recent stock market declines and the resulting deterioration of the financial health of local authority pension fun... -
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE CLAIM OVER STUDENT LOAN REFUSAL CONTINUES LEGAL BATTLE
An academic who says his human rights are being violated by his local council's refusal to give him a student loan ... -
ID CARDS WILL HELP TACKLE BENEFIT FRAUD, SAYS MINISTER
By LGCnet political correspondent Robert Hedley ... -
INITIAL RESPONSE TO INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF EMPLOYERS' ORGANISATION
The Local Government Association responded to the independent review of the Employers' Organisation today saying it... -
INTERNAL APPOINTMENT FOR BEXLEY CHIEF EXECUTIVE POST
Nick Johnson has been appointed the new chief executive of Bexley LBC. ... -
JUDGE RULES BOY IN CARE NORFOLK'S RESPONSIBILITY
A legal battle between Oxfordshire and Norfolk CCs over which should bear responsibility for a little boy in care h... -
LABOUR MPs TURN OUT TO BACK CONSULTATION ON SECONDARY SCHOOL SELECTION
By LGCnet political correspondent Robert Hedley ... -
LABOUR TO READMIT LIVINGSTONE SOON
Ken Livingstone's reinstatement as a member of the Labour Party is now a foregone conclusion and is likely to be se... -
LEA STATEMENT ON BULLIED TEACHER PAYOUT
After the award* of£86,487 damages to a teacher victim of bullying at one of its primary schools, Barnet LBC has i... -
LEGISLATION TO TACKLE NEIGHBOURHOOD NOISE
Neighbourhood noise nuisance is a significant cause of antisocial behaviour, which will be targeted with tough new ... -
LEICESTER TOLERATES BUT DOES NOT MIX
Decades of community cohesion work in Leicester has produced a passive tolerance of other cultures among residents ... -
LGC - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
What's the point? ... -
LGC NEWS BRIEFS
Freedoms and flexibilities given to councils in the Local Government Act 2003 took formal effect on Tuesday. Tuesda... -
LGC REGENERATION SPECIAL
Today LGC unveils its expanded coverage of regeneration, with the first of three special editions. ... -
LGC REGENERATION SPECIAL - GET IT WHILE IT'S HOT
A solid base is the first thing you need if you are going to build your own regeneration pizza, say Celia Cullen an... -
LGC REGENERATION SPECIAL - TIME TO PLACE YOUR BIDS PLEASE
Business improvement districts are the government's latest gamble - but whether they achieve all that is hoped for ... -
LITERACY LESSONS 'FAIL TO TEACH BASIC GRAMMAR'
Children are starting secondary school unable to use full stops and capital letters correctly despite six years of ... -
LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION PROPOSALS IMMINENT
By LGCnet political correspondent Robert Hedley ... -
LONDON EDUCATION OVERHAUL AIMS TO BEAT DEPRIVATION
London's five most educationally deprived councils will be hit by a policy blitz designed to raise standards, based... -
LONDON'S ROAD CASUALTY TOLL DROPS BUT ROAD DEATHS RISE
New figures published today show a welcome 5% fall in London's toll of road ... -
MAJOR HOUSING SURVEY SHOWS NUMBER LIVING IN FUEL POVERTY HAS HALVED
A major survey shows that the number of Scottish households living in fuel poverty has halved in the past six years... -
MENTAL HEALTH BILL COULD LEAD TO WORKFORCE CRISIS
The government's draft Mental Health Bill could dramatically increase the workload of key mental health service sta... -
MORE CENSUS DATA CHECKED FOR ACCURACY
The Office of National Statistics has said it will look again at another six council areas following complaints abo... -
MORE FREEDOMS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
A package of measures to provide more freedom to local government was ... -
MOVE TO AMEND POWERS TO MOVE ON TRAVELLERS DEFEATED
By LGCnet political correspondent Robert Hedley ... -
MUSEUMS MUST TIGHTEN UP PROCEDURES
Arts minister Estelle Morris today said museums must respond to the ... -
NATIONAL LOTTERY BLUE PLAQUES LAUNCHED
Culture secretary Tessa Jowell today launched the first of thousands ... -
NATIONAL ROAD TAX COULD HIT RAIL AND BUS PASSENGERS
A national road charge will put more pressure on Britain's already brittle public transport infrastructure, ministe... -
NEW ACTION GROUP TO TACKLE BUSINESS CRIME
Thousands of businesses are set to benefit from a new national action ... -
NEW DIRECTOR OF TREASURY PUBLIC SERVICES DIRECTORATE
Ray Shostak, a former director of children's services at Hertfordshire CC, ... -
NEW GUIDANCE ENDS SCHOOL EXCLUSION TARGETS
New ... -
NEW HANDBOOK FOR THE INSPECTION OF CONNEXIONS PARTNERSHIPS
The Handbook for inspecting Connexions partnerships, published by the ... -
NEW MEASURES ENABLING LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO CREATE JOBS, SUPPORT BUSINESS AND PROMOTE ENTERPRISE
New measures enabling local authorities to promote economic ... -
NEW POWERS FOR DISTRICTS MISSES OPPORTUNITY
What a missed opportunity, was the Local Government Association's response to the new package of measures for distr... -
NEW POWERS TO TACKLE ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR ONLY ONE PART OF THE SOLUTION
The Local Government Association has welcomed additional tools for councils to tackle anti-social behaviour provide... -
NEW RESEARCH TRACES CAUSES OF COUNCIL TAX CRISIS
New research on local government funding to be published by the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) shows why ... -
NEW RULES WOULD ENSURE CHILDREN AND GAMBLING DON'T MIX
The major sections of a new Gambling Bill were published today in ... -
NEW SEX AND RELATIONSHIP EDUCATION PACK LAUNCHED
A new sex and relationship education resource pack is being launched in the East ... -
NEXT STEPS TO MODERNISE EXAMINATIONS SYSTEM
The next stage of modernisation of the examinations system was today ... -
NLGN CONFERENCE: 'E-GOVERNMENT NOT MEETING CITIZENS' NEEDS'
By Bansri Shah ... -
NLGN CONFERENCE: E-GOVERNMENT PROGRESS LAGS BEHIND PRIVATE SECTOR
By Bansri Shah ... -
NLGN CONFERENCE: GOVERNMENT FUNDING CRUCIAL FOR COUNCILS TO ACHIEVE JOINT e-PROCUREMENT
By Bansri Shah ... -
NLGN CONFERENCE: LEADERSHIP KEY TO E-GOVERNMENT SUCCESS
By Bansri Shah ... -
NO EXTRA CASH FOR NEW SUPER RURAL AGENCY, ADMITS BECKETT
By LGCnet political correspondent Robert Hedley ... -
'NO QUICK FIXES' FOR PROBLEMS OF INNER CITY SCHOOLS
Commenting on concerns voiced by chief inspector of schools David Bell in his Fabian Society lecture on inner city ... -
NORFOLK, LEEDS AND EXETER ALL 'EMBRACING STRATEGIC PROCUREMENT'
'Procurement has escaped the dungeons of the town halls and moved on up to the top table. Let's remain there and in... -
'ON TRACK FOR E-GOVERNMENT, BUT RUNNING OUT OF TIME'
Capita survey reveals views of local government personnel about the ... -
ONYX TO KEEP SANDS AND STREET SHINY
Tendring DC has reappointed Onyx Environmental for six years as its street cleansing and beach cleaning contractor.... -
OPINION - THE PEOPLE'S TERMINATOR
On Monday, Arnold Schwarzenegger was sworn in as the 38th governor of California. His state faces a budget deficit ... -
PACKAGING WASTE RECOVERY AND RECYCLING TARGETS FOR 2004-2008
The government today announced business recovery and recycling ... -
PARENTS COULD BE CHARGED FOR SCHOOL RUN
Ministers will declare war on the school run and the congestion it causes under plans to be unveiled in the Queen's... -
PAY FOR YOUR OWN BOBBIES, SAYS BLUNKETT
A plan to allow the public to rent their own 'beat bobbies' is to be unveiled by home secretary David Blunkett, acc... -
'POLICE AND GOVERNMENT RIDE ROUGHSHOD OVER COUNCIL PLANNING POLICY'
New Forest DC's planning development control committee chair Pat Wyeth has condemned the Hampshire Constabulary and... -
PPP TO STAY, NO MATTER WHAT
Chancellor Gordon Brown has pledged to push ahead with public/private partnerships 'no matter what the opposition'.... -
PRESCOTT WANTS MAINSTREAM FUNDING FOR NEIGHBOURHOOD WARDENS
By LGCnet political correspondent Robert Hedley ... -
PRINCE CHARLES PLANS SECOND TOWN
The Prince of Wales has been given the go-ahead to build a new model town near the surfing beaches of Cornwall, rep... -
'PROMISING' PROSPECTS FOR FLINTSHIRE SOCIAL SERVICES
Issued jointly by the Audit Commission in Wales and Social Services Inspectorate for Wales ... -
PUBLIC TELLS POLICE AUTHORITY IT WANTS 'DIVERSIFIED' AND 'LOCALISED' SERVICE
Londoners have expressed their views very clearly to the Metropolitan Police Authority about what they want from th... -
RAYNSFORD EXPECTS FURTHER BIG COUNCIL TAX RISES
Local government minister Nick Raynsford has told local authorities they should 'budget more prudently' instead of ... -
RAYNSFORD HOPES TOUGH DEAL WILL END TAX ROWS
By Kerry Lorimer ... -
RAYNSFORD SPEECH TO CCN
Local government minister Nick Raynsford's speech to the County Council's Network annual conference yesterday: ... -
REACTION TO NAO REPORT ON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES
Commenting on a NAO report issued today entitled 'English Regions: Success in the regions', Edward Davey, Liberal D... -
REGIONAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT FUNDING
Funding of£1.149m has been awarded to fund improvements to public transport in Angus, Dundee and Perth & Kinross.... -
REGULARS - AN INSPECTOR CALLS
The Audit Commission ... -
REGULARS - GLAD TO BE HOME
'I see you've got a job,' my colleague opined as our paths crossed on Thursday evening in the Commons car park. 'We... -
REGULARS - IN THE DIRECTOR'S CHAIR
A day in the life of Tony Miller ... -
REGULARS - THE OLD OR THE NEW?
The old or the new? Is it better to take on someone who knows the place, or someone new, asks Timothy Wheadon? ... -
RESPONSE CALLS FOR JOINED HEALTH ROLE
Local government has asserted its role in public health in its response to the Wanless Review, an independent asses... -
RESPONSE TO PUBLICATION OF STATISTICS ON DEATHS DURING OR FOLLOWING POLICE CONTACT
Home Office minister Hazel Blears commented today on the publication ... -
ROUNDUP OF LOCAL AUTHORITY STORIES IN THE NATIONAL PRESS - UPDATED 10.35HRS
PROBE INTO COUNCIL TAX RISES ... -
ROUNDUP OF LOCAL AUTHORITY STORIES IN THE NATIONAL PRESS - UPDATED 11:15HRS
FIRE DISPUTE: GOVERNMENT STANDS FIRM ON PAY DISPUTE ... -
ROUNDUP OF LOCAL AUTHORITY STORIES IN THE NATIONAL PRESS - UPDATED 12:25HRS
RSG: THE NORTH AND SOUTH OF IT ... -
ROUNDUP OF LOCAL AUTHORITY STORIES IN THE REGIONAL PRESS - UPDATED 14.10HRS
COUNCILLORS HIT OUT AT PLANS TO DEFER FLOOD DEFENCE BARRIER ... -
ROUNDUP OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT STORIES IN THE NATIONAL PRESS
BROWN TO GIVE COUNCILS CASH INCENTIVES ON LAND RELEASE ... -
ROUNDUP OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT STORIES IN THE NATIONAL PRESS
Chancellor Gordon Brown has restricted room for manoeuvre in next year's spending round by ordering cabinet colleag... -
ROUNDUP OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT STORIES IN THE REGIONAL PRESS - UPDATED 12:40HRS
LAW MAY UNFAIRLY BRAND YOUTHS, CHARITY WARNS ... -
ROUNDUP OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT STORIES IN THE REGIONAL PRESS - UPDATED 17:30HRS
IN DEPTH: FORMER SOCIAL WORK DIRECTOR BLAMES OFFICE CULTURE FOR CHILD PROTECTION FAILURE ... -
RSG: COUNCIL TAX FUNDING GAP NARROWS, BUT DISTRICTS SERIOUSLY SHORT-CHANGED
New funding announced* today goes half way to easing the council tax dilemma ... -
RSG: COUNCILS' REACTION
ANOTHER ROUGH FUNDING DEAL FOR WEST SUSSEX ... -
RSG: DISTRICTS LOSE OUT AGAIN SAY INDEPENDENTS
District councils across the country will be faced with no choice but to raise council tax and cut their services a... -
RSG: EXTRA FUNDS WELCOME BUT PUT IN CONTEXT
Directors of social services have welcomed additional funds for social ... -
RSG: INCREASED COUNCIL FUNDING FOR SEVENTH YEAR RUNNING
Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement Announced ... -
RSG: INCREASED FUNDING FOR CHILDREN'S SERVICES
Education and skills secretary Charles Clarke has welcomed the ... -
RSG: 'LONDON'S STILL STRUGGLING'
While the 4.7 per cent increase of funding announced* by local government minister Nick Raynsford is welcome, Londo... -
RSG: POLICE FUNDING - 'STILL A GAP TO BRIDGE'
Police authority leaders have given a cautious response to the government on their proposals for police funding nex... -
RSG: SIGNIFICANT BOOST TO POLICE SERVICE FUNDING
The police service is to get a cash rise of£403m next year - ... -
RSG:£100M FUNDING BOOST FOR OLDER PEOPLE'S SERVICES
The government has announced an extra£100m funding boost for older ... -
RSG:£500M FUNDING GAP
Commenting on today's local government finance settlement*, Liberal Democrat ODPM shadow Edward Davey said: ... -
SCHOOL AUTONOMY UNDERMINES INCLUSION
Ofsted's chief has said councils need to use persuasion and partnerships to build socially inclusive admissions sys... -
SCHOOL BUSES PLACE YOUNG LIVES AT RISK SAYS TEACHING UNION
At a press conference held today, the National Association of Head Teachers launched its campaign to make school bu... -
SCOTTISH COUNCILS WELCOME BEST VALUE AUDIT
Anything that allows communities to know how well their council is performing on their behalf and the good value fo... -
SEXUAL OFFENCES BILL RECEIVES ROYAL ASSENT
The Sexual Offences Bill - the most radical overhaul of sex offences ... -
SHEFFIELD DEFENDS ITS IMPROVING INNER CITY SCHOOLS
Yesterday's comments by David Bell, chief inspector of schools, about the ... -
SHOSTAK TAKES OVER RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AT TREASURY
Ray Shostak is to take over responsibility for local government in the Treasury's public services directorate. ... -
SICK TEACHERS FAIL TO WIN THE SACK IN COURT
Education departments avoided a costly precedent being set this week after teachers who stopped working because of ... -
SIX WEEK LIMIT TO B&B ACCOMMODATION IS `PERVERSE'
Making it illegal for local authorities to use bed and breakfast hotels for ... -
SOCIAL CARE BOSSES IN LAST-MINUTE PLEA
By political correspondent, Mithran Samuel ... -
SOCIAL SERVICES DIRECTORS RESPOND TO GREEN PAPER
The Association of Directors of Social Services has published its early response to the government's green paper `E... -
STUDY OF INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS IN WELSH COUNCILS
A new report* on internal communication within Welsh local authorities, commissioned by the Welsh Local Government ... -
TACKLING BULLYING, 'MAKE THE DIFFERENCE'
Schools, charities, parents and young people were today urged by ... -
TACKLING PROBLEM OF DELAYED DISCHARGE
Deputy health minister Tom McCabe today met with frontline staff from across Scotland working to tackle the problem... -
TAILOR MADE FOR WALES: REGULATOR OFFERS RESOURCE FOR IMPROVEMENT
The Audit Commission in Wales (ACiW) today began consultation on the commission's first ever separate Strategic Pla... -
TAX ON CHEWING GUM CONSIDERED
Ireland is considering imposing the world's first tax on chewing gum, a move that could be followed by other Europe... -
THIN END OF THE WEDGE FOR URBAN SECONDARY SCHOOL PUPILS
Secondary schools in inner city schools are still struggling, 10 years after ... -
TORY LEADER: THE RESPONSIBLE SOCIETY AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR
Michael Howard's speech to the Charities Aid Foundation annual conference on 13 November: ... -
TOUGH NEW POWERS TO TACKLE ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
The government's drive to tackle anti-social behaviour was boosted ... -
TRANSPORT FUNDING FOR SOUTH EAST SCOTLAND
SESTRANS, the transport company for south east Scotland, has been awarded£4.5m to fund improvements to public tran... -
UDCS RESURRECTED FOR EAST END PLANS
By Mark Smulian ... -
US SHIPS - THIRD AND FOURTH SHIPS TO BE STORED IN HARTLEPOOL
Following exploration of alternative options, the government has ... -
VISCOUNT SEEKS TO DAMPEN ROW OVER BONFIRE
Viscount Gage, whose land was invaded by travellers and then used by a local bonfire society to burn a model of a g... -
WARDENS FROM ETHNIC MINORITY GROUPS HELPING TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY NEIGHBOURHOODS
Wardens across England from black, and minority ethnic backgrounds ... -
WAS MARGARET HODGE THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR 'CHILDREN'S CHAMPION'?
The controversy around children's minister Margaret Hodge shows that she is ... -
WE DID NOT FAKE PLAN TO IMPRESS, SAYS RDA
South East England Development Agency has denied a claim by a leading MP that it produced a spurious corporate plan... -
WELSH BUSINESS RATES FOR 2004-05 ANNOUNCED
Local government and finance minister Sue Essex announced today that business rates for 2004-05 will be pegged in l... -
WELSH COUNCILS WELCOME ELECTORAL STOCK-TAKE
The Welsh Local Government Association has welcomed the publication of an Electoral Commission report into the nati... -
WELSH/SCOTS ELECTIONS: NO ROOM FOR COMPLACENCY
The first-ever independent official ... -
WINTER DRIVING TIPS ON OUR WEBSITE
Low blinding sunlight shining right through your windscreen? Slipping and sliding on black ice? Trying to peer thro... -
WORK LIFE - CALLING FOR EQUAL EFFORT
The recently published - and eagerly awaited - Pay Commission report puts ... -
WORK LIFE - CAREER TIPS
How to talk to politicians ... -
WORK LIFE - DEAR AUNTIE...
Dear Auntie, My boss and her deputy keep going off for secret meetings. Myself and colleagues are really worried. D... -
WORK LIFE - 'I DIDN'T GET WHERE I AM TODAY WITHOUT...'
Margaret Sheather, Executive Director, Social Services, Gloucestershire CC ... -
WORK LIFE - JARGON BUSTER
What is . . . work/life balance? ... -
WORK LIFE - PEOPLE
Janet Barber seeks out the latest management moves in local government ... -
WORK LIFE - 'THEY'RE NOT ALL THAT, YOU KNOW'
Ask chief executives what they think of each other and their councils and you might not get the answers you expect,... -
WORK LIFE - TOMORROW'S PEOPLE
Leah Bird, Assistant Personnel Officer (Equalities), Gloucester City Council ... -
WORK LIFE - YOUR NEXT MOVE?
Anne Gulland looks at where the latest job opportunities are coming up. This week - Barnsley MBC ...
