A think tank is predicting that councils could face central government funding cuts of at least a third. Research from the New Local Government Network suggests authorities could lose more than 12 billion pounds, leading to cuts in services or increased charges.

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Three local authorities are facing action from the Information Commissioner after the details of thousands of children were put at risk by breaches of the Data Protection Act. The London Borough of Barnet and West Sussex and Buckinghamshire County councils have been criticised for their ‘systemic lack of staff training on how to handle personal information’.

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By Rachel Terry and Richard Gibson.

Many older people who own their own homes face a dilemma. Although they are asset rich, they can also be income poor. They can trade in some of their assets by releasing equity on their property. But to do so is fraught with difficulty and the trade in involves risk. The authors describe what is being done to simplify the process and limit the risk.

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