Local councils have been told they must reclaim the streets to tackle youth crime and restore order to communities. The Local Government Association has published a five-point plan, which its chairman, Sir Simon Milton, said represented core actions authorities should take to protect local people and save youngsters from a life of crime. 

Optometrists are to be given the power to prescribe medicines. The Health Minister, Dawn Primarolo has announced that they will be able to train to issue prescriptions in a step that will mean patients being examined, diagnosed and prescribed drugs in a single visit to the opticians. 

This briefing from the Society of IT Management describes the potential efficiency gains from encouraging greater use of the Internet for communicating with councils and processing transactions. Encouraging people to transact business through the Internet and making it easier for them to do so not only provides a fast and efficient service, but it also takes workload away from the traditional channels of letters, phone calls and face to face contact.