The man behind the report which recommended the abolition of three school quangos is calling today for similar radical reductions in the Children’s Plan. In a new report for the Centre for Policy Studies, Tom Burkard says local councils could be given more responsibility for the programmes in the Plan.

Read more on REPORT CALLS FOR MORE COUNCIL INVOLVEMENT IN CHILDREN’S PLAN PROJECTS…

A seminar today will look at how to get the best value for rural communities from the remainder of the Rural Development Programme for England. The event in Kendal, in Cumbria, will bring together more than a hundred organisations to build on lessons from the programme so far.

Read more on SEMINAR TO STUDY HOW TO GET BEST VALUE FROM RURAL DEVELOPMENT FUND…

By David Vant

Cutting costs in public services is a top priority and every option is being explored. Outsourcing debt collection is widely used in the private sector and is becoming more common in the public sector. The author explains the benefits of outsourcing and describes the safeguards for confidentiality and ethical collection.

Read more on SELLING DEBT TO CUT COSTS…