Lord Irvine, the Lord Chancellor, has unveiled plans to speed up criminal
justice and transform the Crown Courts. The plans set out the most radical
changes for 30 years. The aim is to cut delays and cancellations, improve
performance and deliver new levels of service to the people who use the
Crown Courts, especially victims of crime, witnesses and jurors. Judges
will play a key role in the proposals. They will chair the 42 regional
Strategy Committees that are proposed and they will also be responsible for
day to day management of the courts.

Read more on SPEEDY JUSTICE COMING SOON AT A COURT NEAR YOU…

In a move to quicken the pace of change in town halls and get local
councils more closely in line with the Government’s modernisation
programme, Housing Minister Hillary Armstrong has set up a high powered
‘change catalyst’ team. Based in the Department of Environment Transport
and Regions headquarters in London they will travel the country promoting
the Government’s agenda for change set out in ‘Modernising Local Government
in Touch with the People’ published in July 1998 and ‘Modernising
government’ published in March 1999. They will also feed back views and
experiences directly to ministers and to senior officials across Whitehall.

Read more on MODERNISING LOCAL COUNCILS SPEEDS UP…

By Geoffrey Filkin

Best Value will require the most profound shift of attitudes, performance
and skills that local government has been expected to make for decades.
This paper, with contributions from a range of experts from the private and
public sector, explores the problems that local authorities are facing,
what support is needed to help overcome them and the institutional options
for building capacity.

Read more on BUILDING CAPACITY FOR BEST VALUE…