This programme is now available to view on localgov.tv the online television channel for public service modernisation. It describes how the London Borough of Hackney is set to save £3.5 million and transform information access by swapping paper files for an electronic document and records management system.

Read more on TRANSFORMING INFORMATION ACCESS…

Following Communities Secretary Eric Pickles’ support for place based or community budgets and for total place, the Royal Town Planning Institute has warned that the localism agenda must not miss the bigger picture on planning.

Read more on WARNINGS AGAINST A HEADLONG RUSH TO LOCALISM…

Agencies of Community and Local Government have been told to terminate contracts with lobbying companies and a consultation has been launched to tighten rules to prevent local authorities hiring lobbyists.

The Audit Commission, Ordnance Survey and the Tenants Services Authority, are among the agencies that have been told to cancel their contracts with lobbying firms.

Read more on CRACKDOWN ON SPENDING PUBLIC FUNDS FOR LOBBYING…

By John Bessant, Tim Hughes and Sue Richards

This report from the Sunningdale Institute and prepared for the Cabinet Office, describes an approach to leading and nurturing innovation in the Public Sector.

Read more on BEYOND LIGHT BULBS AND PIPELINES…

A national poll of local government executives finds that whilst there is some support for the Big Society initiative, there are deep concerns about the implications for local government resource management.

Read more on POLL FINDS WIDESPREAD CONCERNS ABOUT BIG SOCIETY PLANS…

An agreement that gives councils and public bodies free access to government mapping data will unleash a wave of fresh thinking and innovation in public services, according to Local Government Minister Grant Shapps.

Read more on MAPPING AGREEMENT WILL DRIVE INNOVATION IN PUBLIC SERVICES…

This report from the Commission for Rural Communities sets out findings from research which looked for signs of growth and barriers to growth that need to be tackled.

The report concludes that there is a clear message that for most rural areas economic recovery is underway. The evidence to support this includes falling numbers of Job Seekers Allowance claimants, increased numbers of rural authorities with more claimants leaving than registering for JSA, rising levels of business confidence and also new enterprise start-up rates.

Read more on RECOVERY AND GROWTH IN RURAL ENGLAND…

Communities and Local Government has launched a scheme that will give eight million tenants the chance to see details of every council and housing association tenant looking to exchange homes across the country.

Read more on NATIONAL AFFORDABLE HOME SWAP SCHEME LAUNCHED…

More councils are using Airwave to cuts costs by co-coordinating time better and using resources more effectively. A key feature is that they no longer need to form a control room to co-ordinate communications and activity.

Read more on CUTTING COSTS THROUGH BETTER COMMUNICATION…

By Sue Charlelsworth

“Urban geochemistry” is a rapidly evolving science. With the UN Population Division estimating that almost all global population growth in the next 30 years will be in urban areas, it needs to be. Greater concentrations of people in intensely developed areas of asphalt and concrete are creating more “artificial” environments with their own particular issues around contamination and health.

Read more on URBAN SOIL…