This report by the Audit Commission looks at the impact on neighbourhood renewal policy of the move away from special funding to a reliance on mainstream services to improve conditions in deprived areas. New policies on such as, health, education, police, probation and local authority services, such as street cleansing have to be cascaded throughout the organization. Experience with mainstreaming equalities and environmental sustainability shows that this is best achieved via performance management processes. One of the barriers to ‘mainstreaming’ neighbourhood renewal is a lack of awareness, skills and understanding among staff about the needs of the most deprived areas and how this should affect their work. In addition, research revealed that internal cultural issues can cause problems for organisations that are seeking to improve services in deprived neighbourhoods.Published by the Audit Commission http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk
Police forces have been warned that their work in reducing crime could be damaged by public dissatisfaction over the way non-emergency calls are dealt with. The Home Office Minister, John Denham, has called for a shake up in the handling of such calls.The results of the British Crime Survey show that people who have had direct contact with the police are less satisfied with the service forces provide than those who have not, including those who have been victims of crime.
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The Audit Commission has been accused of playing into the hands of the ‘name and shame culture’ with its plans for a Comprehensive Performance Assessment framework . The Local Government Information Unit is claiming that the Commission has missed a golden opportunity to build a system based on consensus.Responding to the Commission proposals for CPA in county councils and single tier authorities, LGIU director Dennis Reed said, ” The consultation period provided the ideal opportunity for the Audit Commission to take on board strong criticisms from local authorities of their plans for CPA. But this new document shows by and large they have been ignored.”
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