The toolkit has been developed as a resource for all partnerships working for the benefit of children and young people, their families and carers. It was designed to improve the outcome of services for children and young people across the South East. It is co-ordinated by the Government Office for the South East with Sure Start, Childrens Fund and Connexions.For further information about the toolkit e-mail: engage@engage-em.org.uk.

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The Welsh First Minister has ruled out calls for the Assembly Government to sanction retrospectively disputed payments to members and officers of Cardiff Council.Allowances paid to members of Cardiff County Council were increased by 400,000 pounds in 1999-2000, an increase of around 56 per cent on the 1998-99 figures. Complaints from some councillors and members of the public led to the intervention of the then District Auditor. After investigations she concluded that some payments made by the Council had been unlawful. This has been disputed by the Council, and the Auditor has applied to the High Court in accordance with section 17 of the Audit Commission Act 1998 seeking a declaration that the items which concerned her were contrary to law.

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The days of public services, other than health, looking forward to increased funding are over, according to a report out today from the Institute for Public Policy Research. It says the foundations of Labour’s next manifesto are about to be set and that the Budget will be a sideshow.The report “Tough Choices: The 2004 Spending Review” says Government budgets until 2007-08 will be determined by this summer’s Spending Review, which will set the overall direction of policy in the next Parliament. It says it is already known how much money will be available and that the National Health Service will be the big winner.

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