The Local Government Association is stressing the need for councils to work with the Government and local partners to improve relations between all groups of people living in any area. The LGA was responding to the newly-launched consultation on proposals for priority to be given to community cohestion in the provision of teaching English as a second language. 

Councils are being urged to give a thoughtful response to the consultation on plans that would require them to respond to local petitions. The consultation is being conducted by the Communities and Local Government Secretary, Hazel Blears, but the Local Government Information Unit has warned that there are issues around petitions that are not touched on in the process. 

‘Half of the third sector’s income now comes from the state and it is imperative that the standards of governance in the third sector give confidence that taxpayers’ money is being spent properly. Whilst many third sector bodies have admirable arrangements on governance, many do not.
This is a key message from a report summarising the findings of a survey of Chief Executives of third sector organisations by the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations.