The Audit Commission is calling for greater openness about pay-off deals for council chief executives. In a report today it says 37 outgoing executives received more than nine million pounds and it is making recommendations designed to protect public money and the rights of those concerned.
Read more on COMMISSION WANTS OPENNESS ON COUNCIL CHIEF EXECUTIVES’ PAY-OFFS…
A new report on the social care system for older people is suggesting fairer funding arrangements and reforms to the benefits system. The proposals are published today by the King’s Fund, which suggests a revised version of the ‘partnership model’ proposed by the Wanless review is the fairest way of funding care in the future.
Read more on REVISED PARTNERSHIP MODEL ‘FAIREST WAY TO FUND CARE OF OLDER PEOPLE’…
An online knowledge bank about the Compact, the agreement setting out how the Government and the voluntary sector should work together, is now live. The online library has been produced by the Commission for the Compact and holds a range of research papers and documents.
Trading Standards staff in Britain’s second city have carried out the most comprehensive estate agent and Home Information Pack enforcement exercise so far. Working with the Property Codes Compliance Board, officers in Birmingham found that almost a third of HIPs failed to meet the regulations.
Read more on BIGGEST TRADING STANDARDS EXERCISE FINDS FAULT WITH HIPs…
Just banning council staff from using jargon will not, on its own, improve communication with ordinary people, according to an expert on language and business. Neil Taylor, the Creative Director of The Writer, welcomed the Local Government Association’s latest crackdown on unclear language but said a change of culture was needed.
Read more on BETTER COMMUNICATION DEMANDS ‘CULTURE CHANGE NOT JUST JARGON BAN’…
A second round of grants to help homeowners protect their property from flooding has been announced by the Government. The 2.6 million pounds goes to almost thirty local authorities who will be responsible for delivering the Property Level Flood Protection Grant Scheme and will be able to tailor projects to the needs of their communities.
Local authorities in the South West of England and South Wales have joined forces to campaign for a High Speed Rail line from London to the two regions. The Great Western Partnership is promoting the economic and environmental benefits of a high speed line west of the capital.
Read more on RAIL CAMPAIGN PUTS CITIES ON TRACK TO COLLABORATION…
The Welsh Assembly Government has taken action to close a loophole which was allowing some people to pay lower charges on their propery by paying business rates instead of council tax. New legislation will ensure that owners whose properties are predominately unoccupied or used as a second home can no longer pay the lower tax.
Read more on WELSH TAKE ACTION TO CLOSE COUNCIL TAX LOOPHOLE…
A report from a group of MPs is questioning whether Government initiatives to regenerate former coalfield communities are working. Members of the Public Accounts Committee say 13 years after the schemes began, the Department for Communities and Local Government still lacks a clear vision for the regeneration.
Read more on DOUBTS RAISED OVER VALUE OF COALFIELD REGENERATION SCHEMES…
Policy makers and others from Britain and Ireland will gather in Belfast today to share best practice and learning in delivering the current round of rural development programmes. They are attending the first UK National Rural Network conference.
Read more on UK-WIDE RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES IN SPOTLIGHT FOR FIRST TIME…
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