Local government leaders have warned that a national, blanket policy for economic recovery will not work because the impact of the recession has been markedly different in each area. The Local Government Association has issued research which shows that the downturn has hit blue collar workers in the West Midlands, Yorkshire and South Wales while London and the South East have been affected much more by white collar job losses.

Read more on COUNCILS WANT POWER OVER DECISIONS TO HELP AREAS FACE IMPACT OF RECESSION…

A campaign has begun to persuade the Government to fund a large-scale shared taxi project, TaxiPlus, to provide subsidised travel for rural communities. Members of the Commission for Rural Communities and the Commission for Integrated Transport marked the start of the campaign by visiting the Rural Wheels initiative in Cumbria.

Read more on CALL FOR FUNDING FOR FLEXIBLE RURAL TRANSPORT SCHEMES…

This report commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions charts a way to help in developing messages to influence the way people think about when and how they should retire from paid work. The aim is to encourage people to stay in work up to and beyond State Pension age.

Read more on EXTENDING WORKING LIFE: CHANGING THE CULTURE…