The Audit Commission is likely to extend new style short notice inspections to council housing services and Arms Length Management Associations. The extension is also likely to include other services such as homelessness. The Commission has already decided to introduce short notice inspection for Housing Associations.

Read more on WATCHDOG PLANS EXTENSION OF SHORT NOTICE INSPECTIONS TO ALL SOCIAL HOUSING…

The charity TAG (Transforming a Generation) has called on local government to help fund projects for getting young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs) into work.

The pilot programme was launched on 22 September in West London and the first part, which concentrates on employability, has just been completed. The young people are now into the second part which focuses on gym based learning and training. One of the boys who completed the first part said: “At first I thought the early stuff was boring because I wanted to get to the gym stuff, but near the end of the second week I realised how much stuff I’d learned and how little I really knew about what it’s like to work in a serious job.”

Read more on CHARITY WANTS LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP GET NEETS INTO WORK…

By Peter J Reed

The author argues that leadership is about converting vision into reality via strategic thinking and co-ordinated action. It is about defining and clarifying a vision and inspiring others not only to ‘sign up’ to the vision, but to commit themselves enthusiastically to sharing responsibility for the process of implementing it.

Read more on EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP…