The chief executives of all local authorities are being asked to express an interest in their councils forming partnerships to deliver more cost-effective waste services. The Environment Minister, Joan Ruddock, has written to them inviting them to submit proposals on a no-commitment basis at this stage.
The power to create Joint Waste Authorities was introduced last year in response to requests from councils. 

Healthcare experts,directors of adult and community services and the Local Government Association all believe Telehealthcare could radically transform health and social care delivery. They also believe it would support the Government’s target of providing integrated, person-centred care services within the community. 

This survey of UK employers from the Charted Institute of Personnel and Development finds that more than two thirds of employers never or occasionally accept employee requests to work from home. This is despite the fact that of the employers who offer home-working, only 8% believe home-workers are less productive than their office-bound colleagues, while 30% say they are more productive. The remainder of employers say home-working makes no difference to productivity.