By Brendan Martin Reproduced by permission of The Catalyst Forum In 1992 the new Mayor Indianapolis was elected on a platform of public service privatization. The initial conflict with the union later turned into a partnership to tackle the problems of the city. The author describes the forces that changed attitudes, the way the partnership works and the success it has achieved.

The Department for Education and Skills has asked local councils to radically re-think their youth service strategies, if they have not already done so. Traditionally young people in the 13 - 19 age group have suffered from the silo structure of public services. For example a 16 year old unemployed school leaver with no educational qualifications, a drug problem and a police record often received unco-ordinated support from a number of agencies. 

The Local Government Association has told the Government that it is wrong to believe that councils lack commitment or will to tackle the delays in discharges from hospitals.