Details of grants to councils that agree to freeze or reduce council tax have been published.

Councils that freeze or reduce their council tax next year will get a one off grant equivalent to raising their council tax by 2.5 per cent. Police and fire and rescue authorities will get a 3 per cent equivalent, with the Greater London Authority and the City of London getting intermediate offers. The new voluntary scheme will be open to the same councils as last year.

Read more on COUNCIL TAX FREEZE OFFER ANNOUNCED…

The Near Neighbours programme has been launched to help people within communities to get to know each other better and to help them to improve their local neighbourhoods.

The three-year Near Neighbours funded programme provides grants of between £250 and £5000 to grass roots groups in targeted geographical areas: M62 “mill towns” corridor (Bradford, Burnley, and Oldham); Leicester; and selected boroughs and wards in East London and Birmingham.

Read more on BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER FROM DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND DIFFERENT FAITHS…

Council fraud detection has increased by over one third in the last year, but this is only the tip of the iceberg.

Councils have succeeded in detecting £185 million worth of fraud in 2010/11, an improvement of 37 per cent on last year’s figure of £135 million. This is equivalent to a year’s funding for around 700 libraries or the wages of up to 11,000 care workers. But the total loss of revenue through fraud is estimated to be £2b.

Read more on FRAUD COSTING COUNCILS £2b SAYS AUDIT COMMISSION…

The improvement in children’s services is still too variable says Ofsted in a new report. All authorities are urged to aspire to provide the highest level of services for all children and young people in their community.

Read more on CHILDREN’S SERVICES COULD DO BETTER DAYS OFSTED…

Rationalisation of the public sector property portfolio, working in partnerships and adopting new practices, such as flexible working, could improve workforce productivity by up to 15 per cent.

Using buildings differently is the key proposal in the Parliamentary report “Leaner and Greener II: Putting Buildings to Work”. The review was carried out by the Westminster Sustainable Business Forum.

Read more on RE-THINKING PROPERTY CAN BRING £8b SAVINGS SAYS ENQUIRY…

Community groups across the country are being urged to put Britain’s construction and built environment industry at the heart of their plans as the Government’s ‘Big Society’ programme of legislation to devolve more powers locally gathers pace.

Read more on LOCALISM BILL OPENS OPPORTUNITIES FOR BIG SOCIETY…

The Government has made an enhanced offer to resolve the public sector pensions dispute, but unions are continuing to plan for strike action on 30 November.

The new proposals include improved transitional protections for those closest to retirement and increased accrual rates within the major public service schemes compared to their previous position. There would also be a long-term commitment to any agreed reforms not being reopened within the next 25 years.

Read more on NEW PUBLIC SECTOR PENSIONS OFFER BUT STRIKE THREAT REMAINS…

An estimated 35,000 people across Britain face the prospect of losing their home between now and Christmas day, Shelter says today.

The warning comes as the charity launches its new advertising campaign showing that every two minutes someone faces losing their home. This could mean an estimated 35,000 people – 630 people a day – will receive a letter threatening the loss of their home between now and Christmas which could see them ending up in court, fighting to keep their home.

Read more on 35,000 PEOPLE FACE HOMELESSNESS BEFORE CHRISTMAS…

There has been a substantial rise in public sector job vacancies in October according to figures published today. This increase is in line with earlier indications that staff cuts were front loaded in the earlier part of the financial year

Read more on PUBLIC SECTOR TAKES ON NEW STAFF…

Community budgets pilots are to be extended in April 2012. Councils have been invited to bid for community budget funding to support families with complex needs.

The first pilot community budgets schemes were launched in April 2011 and in June 2011 plans to extend the schemes were announced. There are further plans to extend community budgets beyond families with complex needs.

Read more on COMMUNITY BUDGETS GO NATIONWIDE…