This paper from the Audit Commission identifies the unhelpful policy focus on the role of core budgets and services, rather than special area-based grant regimes, and inter-agency or ‘partnership’ working, rather than single agency or ’silo-based’ responses to issues in deprived areas. 

Liverpool City Council has won a prestigious national award for the development of a system designed to improve relations with its customers. The council, which was the only local authority to make it to the final 100 in the National Business Awards, carried off the honour in the ‘Best Use of Technology’ category.The award recognised the transformation of customer services through the authority’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. 

More decisions on the way local government pensions are run could be taken at local level by fund administrators if proposals in a government discussion paper go ahead.The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is inviting comments on how to make the local government pension scheme stronger, more cost-effective and simpler to understand for both employers and staff - perhaps by using IT solutions. Current final salary arrangements will be safeguarded.