By Vicki CombeResearch by the Institute for Public Policy Research, funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, found that four out of five local authorities don’t have a strategy in place for involving young people in decision making. The report contains advice and guidance on how best to involve young people in their decision-making structures, with best practice examples from six authorities used as case studies. 

Public and private sector practitioners can get access to the latest information on PFI contracts guidance in briefing sessions later this week. 

The English regions must start developing e-strategies now if they are to maximise returns on current investment in their regions, says a new report by the organisation for IT managers in local government (SOCITM).According to ‘Developing a regional e-strategy: joining up the e-initiatives’, this applies not just to investment which will deliver e-services, but all investment - whether concerned with community development, social democracy or economic regeneration.