By Dame Denise Platt DBE Public perceptions of the needs of children are often in conflict with the perceptions of children. The public often see the need as being more about control than care. The author explores how children see their need and how they respond to the support they receive. This article was first published in Public Management and Policy and is reproduced by permission of the Association. http://www.cipfa.org.uk/pmpa/index.cfm

South-west local authorities led the way in the NLPG and NSG Exemplar Awards run by the Improvement and Development Agency Intelligent Addressing to recognise outstanding service delivery by councils using the National Land and Property Gazetteer and National Street Gazetteer.
Devon County Council won both the Best Business Integration and Best Gazetteer Integration titles in the NSG section, in which the south west was named the best performing region. 

Local authorities, police,fire services and health boards across Wales are being asked for their views on plans for an improved approach to tackling drink-related crime. The Assembly government has begun a consultation process on a draft framework aimed at helping Community Safety Partnerships take a more co-ordinated approach to disorder and anti-social behaviour.