Local education authorities and schools should be encouraged to makes use of school surplus money in line with local needs, according to the National Audit Office in a report today. It says the Department for Children, Schools and Families has made progress in improving its financial management but needs to encourage better financial management in schools.

Read more on AUDITORS SAY AUTHORITIES SHOULD USE SCHOOL SURPLUSES FOR LOCAL NEEDS…

A study published today claims that Government numeracy and literacy strategies in primary schools have failed. In a report – ‘Rising Marks, Falling Standards’ – the think tank Policy Exchange says standards were rising faster before the strategies were implemented.

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This report, published by the Sunningdale Institute and commissioned by the Cabinet office, calls for the re-invention of policy making to ensure delivery of cost effective and efficient services responsive to people’s needs.

Read more on ENGAGEMENT AND ASPIRATION: RECONNECTING POLICY MAKING WITH FRONT-LINE PROFESSIONALS…

New measures have come into effect to allow local people to ‘recycle’ unused buildings and to bring them under community control. The Communities Secretary, Hazel Blears, said the tougher economic climate had heightened interest in communities maintaining local assets.

Read more on NEW MOVES TO HELP COMMUNITIES TAKE OVER PUBLIC ASSETS…

Reforms are being introduced to the way social services in Wales are reviewed and inspected. The changes announced by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales follow consultations with local authorities and social care providers.

Read more on INSPECTION REFORMS IN WALES PUT ONUS ON COUNCILS TO IMPROVE CARE…

This document from Communities and Local Government summarises the result of consultation on proposals to extend time off entitlements to specific civic roles, extend the list to reflect changes to the nature and types of civic roles available and to consider other ways to encourage participation in governance roles in third sector organisations.

Read more on STANDING FOR OFFICE: TIME OFF ENTITLEMENTS…

Shared services are expected to deliver efficiency savings across government of some £4 billion pounds according to HM Treasury’s Operation Efficiency Programme: The other strands of the Programme are Collaborative Procurement , Property Asset Management
and Total Place. Publicnet provides an overview of the Programme.

Read more on SHARED SERVICES AT FOREFRONT OF EFFICIENCY SAVINGS PLANS…

People in rural areas face the risk of not having access to public services at times in their lives when they need them most, according to a senior Government advisor. Dr. Stuart Burgess, the Government’s Rural Advocate and Chair of the Commission for Rural Communities is in Northumberland today as part of a study looking at important life events, including developing cancer, suffering a stroke, losing a job, becoming a young carer or having a baby

Read more on RURAL ADVISER HIGHLIGHTS LACK OF SERVICES AT KEY TIMES OF LIFE…

Voluntary and community organisations have set out a series of steps they believe will strengthen the relationships between local authorities and the Third Sector. “Working Together to Strengthen Local Communities” has been produced by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations in advance of the local elections on June 4th.

Read more on VOLUNTARY GROUPS SET OUT STEPS TO IMPROVE WORK WITH COUNCILS…

This document from the Department for Health outlines the benefits that local authorities, and their residents, enjoy when they work with user-led organisations. Benefits range from helping local authorities deliver greater personalisation to improved engagement with hard-to-reach population groups.

Read more on PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST – WORKING TOGETHER WITH USER-LED ORGANISATIONS…