A city council’s directory of services has won a second national award. The directory produced by Nottingham City Council to help people access services was described by competition judges as setting a new standard for local government A to Zs.
Read more on COUNCIL’S DIRECTORY OF SERVICES SCOOPS SECOND NATIONAL AWARD…
By Dave Adamson and Richard Bromiley
Community empowerment is a desirable aim and a White Paper is due shortly setting out how it will be promoted. The authors looked at where community empowerment is now and found that current structures are not very supportive. They found that local authorities and other public bodies, where the power lies now, are failing to respond to the community agenda. Local strategic partnerships and local service boards are not structured to connect with communities. No evidence was found of significant mainstream ‘programme bending’ where statutory agencies prioritised actions and expenditure.
The conclusion is that it is possible to achieve community empowerment but there will need to be policy changes and resources from government.
Parish councillors have been told they have an important part to play in reinvigorating local democracy. The Communities and Local Government Secretary, Hazel Blears, used a speech to members of the National Association of Local Councils to outline a vision of a new era of ‘parish power’.
Read more on COUNCILLORS GIVEN VISION OF NEW ERA OF ‘PARISH POWER’…
Local authority Trading Standards Officers are warning rogue traders that they will face tough action under new powers that will come into force next week. LACORS, which coordinates trading standards work across the country, says scam artists, cowboy builders and doorstep criminals are facing the biggest shake-up to consumer law in decades.
Read more on TRADING STANDARDS OFFICERS READY TO USE NEW CONSUMER LAWS…
Communities and Local Government wants suggestions on how it can make the commitment to empowerment a reality through the Empowerment White Paper, due to be published in Summer 2008. It describes empowerment as helping citizens and communities to get the confidence, skills and power that helps them to shape and influence decisions and services in their local area.
This programme is now available to view on egovtv.tv, the onlinetelevision channel for public service modernisation. The case studies illustrate the different approaches being taken to achieve transformation.
The City of Edinburgh Council has rationalised its technology to enable more flexible working practices, improve productivity and deliver services more efficiently to the citizens of Edinburgh
Local authorities should be able to build on land that they own and to reinvest the money raised through the sale of council houses in new homes according to a report today from the House of Commons Communities and Local Government Committee. The committee also says much more needs to be done to increase the supply and the quality of rented housing.
Read more on MPs WANT FREEDOM FOR COUNCILS TO CREATE MORE HOMES FOR RENT…
Schools are not doing enough to teach children how to live greener lives according to a report today from Ofsted. The Inspectors say teaching sustainability in schools could bring to life the significance of climate change and show pupils that they have an important part to play in protecting the environment.
Read more on OFSTED SAYS SCHOOLS SHOULD DO MORE TO PROMOTE GREENER LIVING…
Government ministers are facing calls to ‘open the books’ and to publish new information on public spending in local areas. The call comes from the Local Government Association in its response to consultations on the Sustainable Communities Act 2007. The LGA wants the Communities and Local Government Secretary, Hazel Blears, to publish public service spending details by the autumn.
Read more on COUNCILS CONCERNED PUBLIC SPENDING STATEMENTS COULD BE DELAYED…
A task force has been set up to try to persuade more women from ethnic minority backgrounds to become involved in grassroots politics and to stand as local councillors. The new group has been established by the Minister for Women and Equalities, Harriet Harman.
Read more on ATTEMPT TO GET MORE WOMEN COUNCILLORS FROM ETHNIC MINORITIES…
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