This independent review identifies the need for greater focus and understanding by the Agency of its objectives and work. It urges the IDeA to seize the rapidly changing improvement agenda; lead local authorities in responding to that agenda; and steer the sector through the maze of solutions and support on offer. The review acknowledges the challenging working environment of the last five years and highlights the IDeA’s valuable existing and future role as an independent agency accountable to local government through the LGA. However, there are still some key stakeholders, including some in local government, who are not yet convinced that the Agency is providing real added value to the sector and work still remains for the I&DeA to respond to these concerns.There is some confusion about the I&DeA’s core purpose. There would appear to be a consensus, both outside of and within the Agency that now is an appropriate time to take stock of its successes and strengths and to consolidate its current standing. There is also agreement that it needs greater focus to the services that it offers. Many stakeholders felt that the I&DeA was not communicating clearly about their respective roles and offerings. Some felt that the plethora of glossy publications that were distributed to councils on a regular basis were in many cases not relevant to the audiences they were aimed at, and that there was too much information circulated which led to much of it remaining unread. This was particularly true for elected members.
Refugees are to be encouraged to play a greater role in their new communities. They are also being urged to contribute to a new national integration strategy produced by the Home Office and now out for consultation. “Integration Matters” sets out the Government’s long term plans to help recognised refugees integrate into society. It is open for consultation for three months.The plans are to be backed by 5.5 million pounds of new funding for refugee support projects and networks. An additional 1.5 million will also be available to give asylum seekers the opportunity to give something back to their host communities while they are waiting for a decision on their status.
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The decision to hold a new inquiry into reform of local government funding will mean another council tax crisis next year, according to the local democracy think-tank, the Local Government Information Unit. Local authorities, too, are warning that council tax is going to be “a huge problem” next year and that doing nothing is not an option.The responses follow the announcement of an independent inquiry that will examine how to make the council tax system fairer and more sustainable. Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford said the inquiry’s work would be informed by the Balance of Funding report, which concluded that council tax should be retained but reformed. It said, too, that there were strong arguments for shifting the balance towards more local funding, but only if the methods for doing this were both feasible and desirable.
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