Plans have been revealed which would give local authorities the chance to put their financial reserves in a “safe haven” council bank. The proposal has come from the think tank the New Local Government Network, which has also published figures showing support from Directors of Finance.

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A children’s charity has welcomed news of 12 million pounds of Government investment in services for youngsters with speech, language and communication needs. Action for Children described an action plan unveiled by the Health Secretary Alan Johnson and Children’s Secretary Ed Balls, as vital in helping vulnerable children communicate more effectively.

Read more on CHILDREN’S CHARITY WELCOMES GOVERNMENT MONEY FOR COMMUNICATION SERVICES…

By Maureen Alderson

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

Devolving power from Whitehall to town halls and then to communities is seen as the route to revitalizing democracy. Within this empowerment process, councillors play a vital role because they represent local people and are concerned about local issues. But they can only play their full part if they are empowered to respond to the changes sweeping across local landscapes. The author looks at how empowerment is developing and what more is needed.

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