New research shows that almost a quarter of a million people with disabilities have no access to public lavatory facilities that meet their needs. The study was commissioned by the learning disability charity, Mencap, which says carers are often forced to use toilet floors to change the people they are looking after.

Read more on STUDY HIGHLIGHTS LACK OF ADEQUATE PUBLIC LAVATORIES FOR DISABLED PEOPLE…

There is a widespread lack of awareness about social care, confusion about how services are funded and a lack of preparation or planning for future care needs. These are the key findings from research by the Institute for Public Policy Research and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

Read more on EXPECTATIONS AND ASPIRATIONS: PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARDS SOCIAL CARE…

Countryside campaigners fear a new road safety strategy could lead to more than a million new speed limit signs being put up across England. The Campaign to Protect Rural England bases its prediction on a statistical breakdown of the impact in each local authority area.

Read more on CAMPAIGNERS RAISE FEARS OVER A MILLION NEW SPEED LIMIT SIGNS…

More than 3.6 million people gained vocational qualifications last year according to figures today from the independent education foundation, Edge. The statistics, published to mark Vocational Qualifications Day, also show that one of the main areas of growth was the number of young people gaining vocational qualifications at school.

Read more on NEW FIGURES SHOW MORE SCHOOL STUDENTS TAKING VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS…

The Society of IT Management has published an Insight briefing on getting better value from council websites. It argues that customer self-service must move sharply up the agenda if councils are to meet future demand for services against a background of static or falling budgets.

Read more on DELIVERING MORE FOR LESS THROUGH COUNCIL WEBSITES…

More than 200,000 families a month are getting help with mortgage interest or free Government funded advice from their local council, according to the Housing Minister John Healey. He revealed the figures as he announced a doubling of funding for free, legal advice in courts.

Read more on THOUSANDS GETTING MORTGAGE ADVICE FROM COUNCILS…

Wheelie bins have led to a dramatic increase in recycling rates according to a survey by the Local Government Association. The figures from a snap poll showed that in one case a council had seen the amount of material recycled rise from four per cent to 38 per cent and in another case it went from 19 to 60 per cent.

Read more on WHEELIE BINS CONTRIBUTE TO RISE IN RECYCLING RATES…

This report from the Cabinet Office describes progress made in joining up services to reduce wasteful duplication, encouraging more professional project delivery through better staff skills and securing more effective programme monitoring.

Read more on TRANSFORMATIONAL GOVERNMENT…

The public sector spends £19b each year on accommodation, office refurbishments and renovation projects and £3.8b on energy. Costs in these areas are set to fall following the negotiation of framework agreements by Buying Solutions, an executive agency of the Treasury.

Read more on PUBLIC SECTOR BUYING COSTS COMING DOWN…

Ealing Council is proposing to give a one-off ‘Value For Money Premium’ cash handout to every home in the borough as part of a £6m plus package to fight the recession.

Read more on CASH BACK ON COUNCIL TAX TO FIGHT RECESSION…