A new report has warned the Government that halting traffic growth at a timeof economic prosperity is not realistic.It says that the best that might be possible nationally is for the rate of traffic growth to be brought down to zero at some future date. Even this would require intensive application of the Integrated Transport White Paper. 

The Inland Revenue and HM Customs have jointly published details of what they are planning to do to meet the Government’s objectives for e-commerce and e-government.Their paper, E-commerce: the UK’s taxation agenda, outlines how both departments will introduce Internet filing of tax returns during 2000/2001. The Government intends to offer a discount on tax returns filed over the
Internet. 

The Crown Prosecution Service is to survey its staff in the first stage of a stress audit. Discussions with trade unions started over a year ago and the timing of the survey coincides with a major reorganisation. Survey results will be available by April 2000.OSA Ltd of Amersham, whose previous clients include Highways Agency and BP, has been awarded the survey contract after a tendering exercise. 

The digital divide between the information ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ is to be bridged by a network of free access kiosks. The new network will go some way to allay concern that the benefits of new technology may be shared only by few.Members of the public will be able to get free on-line information about their local area from 3500 touch-screen Internet-driven kiosks in public areas across the country. 

Cohen, Allan R. / Bradford, David L.Today, professionals and managers experience great increases in responsibility without parallel increases in authority. This book shows how to attain co-operation from other managers who command resources, information, or potential support but who are not required to collaborate. 

The drive to modernise the health service has moved forward with a project to share good practice. The NHS Beacon scheme launched earlier in the year, has identified 290 Beacons covering general practice, waiting lists and times, and mental health. The Beacons are star performers and they will share their expertise with colleagues. 

Many councils have failed to listen to council tax payers in devising their plans for Best Value. This is one of the findings to emerge from research by the Department for Transport Environment and Regions which shows that citizens are likely to get a poor deal from Best Value.The new duty laid on councils to deliver best value requires them to produce plans by March 2000 showing how they will do this. 

A drive is being launched to encourage more secondments from Government to the voluntary sector. This is part of an overall strategy to foster joined up policy making and delivery.Secondments are an important element in implementing the ‘Compact on Relations Between the Government and the Voluntary Sector’ published in November 1998. There is widespread disappointment that there were only 230 secondments between the civil service and voluntary bodies in the last year. 

The Performance & Innovation Unit in the Cabinet Office is to carry out a study to find out which public services could be delivered by electronic means. It is expected that the findings will give a clear view of how technology might be used to deliver world class services. 

Edge JOrganizations & People: Successful Development, (UK), Vol 5 No 4 Start page: 34. No of pages: 2
Argues that management development should be a mandatory requirement for newly elected local government councillors. Contends that members’ current lack of strategic business awareness hinders the development of local authorities and competent management of their resources, although it is not an election issue or vote-winner.