Public bodies are facing a renewed call to become more transparent. The Information Commissioner has issued new guidance underlining the need for minutes and agendas of meetings to be published routinely.
The Commissioner’s Office says the guidance is designed to help public authorities understand what information should be made public under the Freedom of Information Act and Environmental Information Regulations. 

A local government think tank is calling on the Government to be bolder in its approach to constitutional reform. The Local Government Information Unit believes the Government has so far failed to get a dialogue going on the practical issues of reform and it wants clarity on the balance between local and central government.
The LgiU is urging ministers to consider the wider issues in the Constitutional Renewal Bill. 

By Alison Ballantyne
Bullying in school has been around for a long time, but the Government, councils, school management and teachers are working together to tackle the problem with a zero tolerance approach. The strategy being pursued by the London borough of Bexley was to create an anti-bullying team to give support and advice to victims and to provide an online database to present a real time picture of what is happening.