The Environment Agency has raised concerns over local planning authorities granting permission for developments in spite of its objections on the grounds of flood risk. In a report it says councils gave the go-ahead to 16 major developments, including a ferry terminal, 240 homes and a primary school, in a 12-month period in spite of the threat of flooding.

Read more on AGENCY CALLS ON COUNCILS TO HEED ADVICE ON FLOOD PLAIN DEVELOPMENTS…

Councils are being advised to be strategic in the way they communicate with the people they serve in an effort to avoid the perception that some groups in the community are losing out to others. The recommendation comes from a study of the way local authority communications promote community cohesion.

Read more on REPORT LOOKS AT COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND COHESION…

This report from Communities and Local Government assess the impact of policies over the 1998-2007 period in raising the performance of local government.

It sets out the levels of improvement since 2001, the external and internal influences on improvement, the barriers to improvement and the implications of the analysis for future local government policies.

Read more on PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT…