By Tim Dent

Helping people to be active is important for their health, for tackling social exclusion and for regeneration. The level of activity can vary from gyms and swimming pools to art galleries and museums. Local councils provide a whole range of these cultural activities and it is important that they give value for money to their customers. The author explains how quality and performance audits and facility ‘health checks’ can help ensure customer satisfaction.

Read more on PROMOTING HEALTHY ACTIVITY AND DELIVERING VALUE FOR MONEY…

For the first time the number of people recruited onto teacher training courses has exceeded Government targets. The targets are set to meet the predicted need for new teachers for different subjects and age groups and the Training and Development Agency for Schools says that this year they have all been met or exceeded.

Read more on TEACHER RECRUITMENT BEATS TARGETS FOR FIRST TIME…

A new report says Oxford and Cambridge are qualitatively different from other UK universities but suggests they could follow some American institutions in being explicit about their aims to achieve the best social and ethnic mix of students. The independent higher education think tank, HEPI, carried out the study to examine what makes Oxford and Cambridge different.

Read more on STUDY EXPLAINS ‘THE OXBRIDGE DIFFERENCE’…

By Dominic Abrams, Tiina Eilola and Hannah Swift

The surveys carried out by the University of Kent on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions reveal a consensus that many people experience ageism and that ageism is a serious problem. Younger people experience ageism just as acutely as older people.

Read more on ATTITUDES TO AGE IN BRITAIN…

The Government is looking at making data held by Ordnance Survey more freely available as a way of driving improvements in public services. Gordon Brown told a seminar on Smarter Government that the agency would open up information relating to electoral and local authority boundaries, postcode areas and mid scale mapping information.

Read more on PLAN TO MAKE OS DATA AVAILABLE TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SERVICES…

Proposals to overhaul the planning system to make it easier for councils and residents to take steps to cut carbon emissions have been put out for consultation. Relaxations in planning regulations will come with caveats and if the proposals are agreed by Parliament after the three month consultation the Governments says the new rights would be closely monitored and regularly reviewed.

Read more on PROPOSALS TO END PLANNING RED TAPE FOR CARBON CUTTING SCHEMES…

This guide is designed to help managers discover and implement innovative working methods which improve productivity, save money and enable employees to balance their work and personal lives.

This guide describes the benefits that organizations can achieve and the key principles for introducing flexibility. It also includes advice on creating a flexible workplace and developing the key management skills required.

Read more on WORKING BETTER: A MANAGERS GUIDE TO FLEXIBLE WORKING…

Local councils have a critical role to play in national economic recovery but are often overlooked according to the LOCAL Better Regulation Office. It has produced new guidance on the ways councils can support businesses and these will be discussed later this week.

Read more on COUNCILS’ ROLE IN RECOVERY ‘SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED’…

Children in care are concerned about losing touch with brothers and sisters, not getting enough support from social workers and about how councils are preparing them for the future, according to the latest report from England’s Children’s Rights Director. The report was presented to delegates at a Government run conference assessing the care system.

Read more on CHILDREN IN CARE AIR CONCERNS OVER LEVELS OF SUPPORT…

By Arthur L. Jue, Jackie Alcalde Marr and Mary Ellen Kassotakis

Today’s networking technologies, wikis, blogs, and social networking sites, are changing how we build professional relationships and work collaboratively. In this insightful book, three organisational development experts from Oracle Corporation offer down-to-earth strategies for leveraging the power of social media to build more effective and agile organisations, engage employees, and sustain competitiveness.

Read more on SOCIAL MEDIA AT WORK: HOW NETWORKING TOOLS PROPEL ORGANISATIONAL PERFORMANCE…