A study published today shows that young people’s well-being drops drastically at secondary school, with significant effects on their personal development. The research was carried out by the think tank The New Economics Foundation in partnership with Nottingham City Council, which has been praised for its part in the survey.The study looked at two measures of well being in over 1,000 youngsters, life satisfaction and personal development. 

By Annette Davies and Robyn Thomas.This paper presents empirical and theoretical analysis of the enactment of New Public Management (NPM) within the UK police service. It draws on material gathered in a two-year study and challenges traditional understandings of policing organization and identities. The paper examines the implications of this for policies that promote community orientated policing (COP) and increased inter-agency partnership. 

By Mark Exworthy and Susan Halford.The book presents an overview of the restructuring of British personal public service and its implication for professional employees. It focuses on health and social care, reflecting on the recent past and looking at the possible futures.
Published by the Open University Press. ISBN 0 335 198 19 8. 19.99 pounds.

About one third of 2004 graduates are looking for work in the public sector. A survey by GTI found that 65% of those looking at the public sector wanted a job that was ‘worthwhile’ and contributed to society rather than making money. 

Public bodies in Wales are on track to save 90 m pounds on procuring goods and services by 2010. This represents an annual saving of 3% on a spend of 3b pounds. The Welsh procurements Initiative, launched by the Welsh Assembly in 2002 is the first public sector body in Europe to address the entire public sector procurement activity of a nation. 

e-Government is steadily becoming a reality across public services, but the key issue which is emerging is not technology but take-up. This article explains how Doncaster Borough Council has created an electronic housing management service with a range of on-line facilities for its tenants. Although many tenants benefit indirectly because the system is used by staff to respond more rapidly to callers, there has been a slow take-up on line. The Doncaster experience highlights the take-up issue and puts the focus on access and marketing.

Thirty per cent of public sector training managers reported that their training budget had decreased last year as compared to 27% in the private sector. The disparity between the sectors becomes more pronounced in expectations for next year. In the public sector 26% of managers expect the budget to decrease compared to only 17% in the private sector. Private sector investment in training is being fuelled by fears of skills shortages. 

Special prosecutors to handle anti social behaviour cases and tougher procedures for collecting fines from people who persistently refuse to pay up for criminal offences such as vandalism, complete the loop of measures to target low level crime. The measures are an important step as they close the circle that starts out on the streets and ends in the courts. 

Contracts awarded to Nuffield Hospitals and Capio Healthcare UK to perform almost 25,000 hip, knee and other operations for NHS patients will help towards the target of reducing waiting times for operations to six months by 2005. The cost for each operation and associated care is on a par with equivalent NHS prices. Under the contracts around 880 NHS patients in each strategic health authority will start to receive operations within weeks, in 50 independent hospitals all over the country. 

IT companies serving the local government market place have set up the Alliance of eGov Suppliers. Traditionally there has been no industry wide relationship with the local government sector as is the case in central government. The Office for Government Commerce has a Supplier Relations Team which fosters better working relationships and understanding between suppliers and central government.