The pack offers guidance for councils on how change agents such as the Regional Centres of Excellence will give support in delivering efficiency gains. It also gives examples of good practice within local government on which councils can build to deliver improved value for money in public services. It focuses on how efficiency gains will be measured and reported. It describes a three-stage process of self-assessment which includes a method for measuring efficiency gains which has been determined following consultation with a group of councils and organisations including the Audit Commission, Local Government Association and INLOGOV of the University of Birmingham. This pack complements an Efficiency Information Pack issued in November 2004.The pack is available at: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_localgov/documents/page/odpm_locgov_034633.pdf
Local authorities in Wales will share almost three million pounds in extra funding this year to help them meet European Commission requirements for the disposal of domestic fridges.Since the beginning of 2002, CFCs from both the insulation foam and the coolant in fridges has to be removed and treated, so they are not released into the environment, before appliances can be recycled or scrapped. Since 2002 specialist facilities have been developed and the Welsh Assembly believes there is now enough capacity to manage the expected number of domestic fridges that are discarded in Wales each year.
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Local authorities could get tough new powers to deal with utility companies when badly managed street works lead to traffic disruption. The proposed measures have been put out for consultation by the Transport Secretary Alistair Darling.It is estimated that disruption caused by utility companies costs the economy more than four billion pounds each year. The consultation covers four sets of proposals, including the introduction of permit schemes and new fixed penalties for utility companies when they commit criminal offences. There would also be changes to the existing regime for charging utilities whose works overrun and a package of steps to strengthen the existing controls over utility works.
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