New research by the Chartered Management Institute reveals that although alcohol and drug misuse has an estimated 3.5 billion pounds annual cost to UK organizations, almost half of managers would have difficulty in identifying possible signs of drug misuse in their colleagues. 

The worst fears of local government managers about their changing role have been realized in a report prepared by the University of Birmingham and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. ‘Continuity or Change? Officers and New Council Constitutions’ examines the impact of the new political structures on the roles of officers in councils. Most councils have changed to a cabinet system of governance with a leader, others now have elected mayors. 

Most people who resign from their jobs are not moving for money or career progress but because they are sick of their immediate boss. Personality clashes or general dissatisfaction with managers are the biggest single reason for people leaving their jobs. The conclusion drawn from a survey by Manchester Metropolitan University is that weak management pushes good employees to leave. 

The outsourcing of Brighton and Hove City Council’s refuse and street service proved disasterous. As well as service failures it resulted in staff doing the same jobs on different terms and conditions, because of contracts signed with different contractors. 

Managers are moving up the learning curve in negotiating deals with private sector contractors under the public finance initiative. Over 500 PFI deals have been signed so far, but when the earlier deals were negotiated the public sector managers, unlike the contractors, did not understand the complexities of raising finance for the projects. The terms of the contracts were agreed on the basis of the rates of interest charged by the financial backers. 

By Patrick LencioniThe author describes the ultimate leadership crisis: uniting a team in disarray. This is a gripping tale and serves as a timeless reminder that leadership requires as much courage as it does insight. Throughout the story, Lencioni reveals the five dysfunctions which go to the very heart of why teams even the best ones-often struggle. He outlines a powerful model and steps that can be used to overcome these common hurdles and build a cohesive, effective team. 

Call centres providing a range of public services are managed better by private sector companies. They provide a better service and make more effective use of staff. These are conclusions from the National Audit Office report ‘Using Call Centres to Deliver Public Services’.The NAO survey found that call centres managed by private sector companies are generally better equipped, particularly with IT systems. 

More than 100 council leaders have signed up to a pledge that commits their councils to either give or receive support to improving services. 

By John Redwood and Nick SeatonThe authors calculate that if all the money followed the child, state schools would have a sum equivalent to the independent sector. They argue that with this funding all state schools could be freed from government and given the same legal status as an independent school. Headteachers would then have the same degree of autonomy and the state would pay a specified sum - in the region of 5,000 pounds per year - directly to the school. 

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has called for further Government action to reduce poverty. A new report by the Foundation highlights how changes have helped low-income households, such as falling unemployment, rising school achievement and better housing, but calls for extra measures to raise the incomes of the poorest families.