The government's use of public sector targets often referred to as 'targetitis' should reflect 'meaningful outcomes for those using and providing services', the chair of the Local Government...
Top-performing authorities will be exempted from ringfenced funding as part of the package of freedoms and flexibilities finally unveiled by ministers this week.
The reorganisation of health services in Wales will improve co-operation between the NHS and councils, the Welsh Assembly's minister for health and social services claimed this week.
The Comprehensive Performance Assessment is the 'model of the future' for inspecting and improving public services, the new chair of the Audit Commission has said.
Private developers cannot be relied upon to build the thousands of affordable homes needed in the Southeast and other parts of England, housing professionals were told this week.
Local authorities could raise an extra £65m under new government proposals to end the automatic entitlement to a 50% council tax discount for second homes.
England's pensioners missed out on almost £1.9bn last year, largely because the government failed to inform them of the range of benefits available, according to the National Audit Office.
A 'spasm of anti-centralism' since Labour came to power has threatened universal standards and equality of access to public services, according to a Left-wing think tank.
Home Secretary David Blunkett this week played down claims that he is creating a national police force, despite unveiling centrally determined priorities for local forces.
Further education colleges are to receive an extra £1.2bn in funding over the next three years but resources will be dependent on reaching performance targets, Education Secretary Charles Clarke...
The controller of the Audit Commission has urged councils to pressurise the government to ensure that it delivers on a promise to offer greater freedoms to top-performing authorities.
The Improvement and Development Agency has appointed the colourful and often controversial chief executive of Camden, Steve Bundred, as its new executive director.
Government plans to free only the best NHS trusts from Whitehall control and to penalise councils that fail to tackle bed-blocking have been criticised by health service managers.
Tony Blair's big political ideas for the next 12 months have drawn immediate criticism following their unveiling at the state opening of Parliament this week.
Social services are on the verge of collapse, despite the government's promise of a 6% increase in spending in each of the next three years, the King's Fund said this week.
Sir Jeremy Beecham has made a last-ditch plea to the government to scrap plans to fine authorities deemed responsible for bed-blocking, in advance of next week's Queen's Speech.
Official complaints about elected members of public bodies have risen dramatically in the past few months, following the introduction of a new code of conduct for councillors, the Office of the...
The visibly deteriorating state of council housing is a political predicament that has haunted successive governments.
In Scotland, the issue of how to tackle an outstanding repair and investment...
Another local authority has pulled out of the government's stock transfer programme because it would prefer to find other ways of improving its housing.
New Labour's obsession with public sector targets has distorted the abilities of the education and health sectors to deliver services the public needs, MPs have heard.
The government has confirmed the appointment of James Strachan, currently chief executive of the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, as the new chair of the Audit Commission.
Schools could soon be hosting health and social services, citizens' advice bureaux and even post offices under a pilot scheme to extend their use in the community.
Schools minister Cathy Ashton...
