Councils in some parts of the country will face tough choices over spending cuts following the Local Government Finance Settlement, according to the Local Government Association. The settlement, announced by the Minister for Local Government, John Healey, provides around three-quarters of all the money councils spend locally. 

The number of disputes between charities and local public bodies such as councils and Primary Care Trusts trebled last year, according to the Compact Advocacy Programme, based at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations. Its annual report shows the number of cases it dealt with went from 14 in 2005-06 to 50 in 2006-07. 

By Lucy de Groot and Lee Digings
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
Since the start of the 21st century public service reform has carried the labels of joined –up government, the Gershon Effciency Review and now the Transformational Government strategy and delivery plan. The authors expose some of the weaknesses in the quest for reform so far.