This report sets out the findings from the evaluation of the Department for Communities and Local Government programme of involvement with councils classified as poorly performing. Most of the fifteen councils have either achieved, or are well on the way to achieving recovery. Those that have been slower to improve are now making progress. Overall the improvement rate of councils in the programme is better than other councils.The main weakness of the poorly performing councils was in corporate performance and greater progress has been made here than in service delivery. The report shows that employees are more positive about the outcomes achieved by the council and report improvements in their perception of capability, and capacity. Confidence in senior managers and councillors has exhibited a marked improvement, although the level of improvement is greater for managers than councillors, possibly reflecting their greater visibility to employees.
THINK TANK URGES COUNCILS TO FORM COMPANIES FOR EQUITY RELEASE
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation in a new report ‘Obstacles to equity release’ calls on councils to get together to create a company that could offer equity release loans for older people. It also wants councils to support a better service of advice and guidance.
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CONNECTING COURTS AND AGENCIES FOR MORE EFFECTIVE ASBOs
The Department for Constitutional Affairs has launched a pilot scheme in eleven county courts to improve the flow of information between agencies involved in anti social behaviour cases. The aim is to make sure that the civil courts get the information they need to smooth the progress of anti social behaviour cases. The scheme is part of the Respect Action Plan announced in January 2006 which sets out how the Government intends to tackle the causes of anti social behaviour.
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