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.

Read more on MORE HOMES TO GET HELP TO CUT FLOOD RISKS…

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…

The New Local Government Network is today calling for the sub-letting of social housing to be made a criminal offence. In a detailed report it estimates that there are at least 50,000 people living in homes they have no right to and that 80 per cent of them do not qualify for council help.

Read more on CALL FOR SUB-LETTING TO BECOME CRIMINAL OFFENCE…

Seven local authorities are to pilot a new scheme to support people with learning disabilities to find paid work.The Jobs First project will help people to use money from their personal care budgets to get the support they need to move into lasting employment.

Read more on COUNCILS TO RUN JOBS PILOTS FOR PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES…

The Audit Commission is taking another step to stimulate debate on transparency in the public sector in the information age. It has published the second discussion paper in its ‘Truth’ series ‘The truth is out there’. It asks questions including ‘What information will capture the public’s imagination?’ and ‘How will the public know what information to trust?’

Read more on AUDIT COMMISSION MOVES ON DEBATE ABOUT INFORMATION ONLINE…

Local authorities are being urged to recognise the need to invest in specialist childcare for children with disabilities. The call has come from the National Childminding Association, which has welcomed a report being produced today by Ofsted.

Read more on COUNCILS URGED TO INVEST IN SPECIALIST CARE FOR DISABLED CHILDREN…