Ministers have quickly rejected key recommendations from Sir Michael Lyons' review of local government, including a revaluation of property prices and an end to capping.
MPs have cast doubt on plans to scrap the troubled Child Support Agency and transfer hundreds of thousands of cases to a streamlined body, claiming that more IT problems could follow.
Two heads are better than one when it comes to leading a major culture change in children's services. Sally Gainsbury meets the joint presidents of the Association of Directors of Children's Services...
Just as the Barker review points the way to more planning incentives, along comes the European Union with yet another fly in the ointment. Now even section 106 projects are threatened by procurement...
Potential long-term benefit claimants could be transferred to the private and voluntary sectors after just 14 weeks under government plans to create a multibillion pound 'welfare-to-work' market from...
Senior hospital doctors believe that major NHS reforms, such as payment by results and Patient Choice, will fail to improve the service patients receive, according to a British Medical Association...
The Scottish Executive has been forced to defend its controversial civil service relocation policy following a critical report by an influential committee of MSPs saying the scheme is 'flawed and...
Local government trade unions have agreed to hold off further industrial action in their long-running dispute over pensions as they believe they are close to a deal, Public Finance has learnt.
The prime minister and chancellor this week backed a radical welfare overhaul that will hand over responsibility for millions of long-term benefit claimants and billions in public cash to private...
The Department for Work and Pensions has tried to improve its call centres after a damning PAC report last year. But has it done enough? Justin Pugsley reports
The first signs of a breakthrough in Whitehall's industrial relations dispute emerged this week when the Cabinet Office assumed responsibility for a government-wide assessment of privatisation plans.
Ministers must commit Whitehall departments to new joint Public Service Agreements if they are to tackle the growing gap between unemployment and skills in the North of England compared with the...
Local authorities are offsetting low council tax rises with increases in the fees they charge for care services ranging from 13% to 100%, Public Finance has learnt.
The government this week promised NHS unions a greater say in the development of policy after months of wrangling over pay, pensions and the influence of the private sector.
Fire and rescue authorities have responded positively to the reform of the service but there has been no clear reduction in reducing the risks from fire, Audit Scotland has found.
Building more low-cost homes for sale is one of the solutions to the housing crisis. But this doesn't have to be the sole preserve of private developers. In fact, social landlords are taking on this...
The funding system for adult social care is unsustainable and undesirable and should be replaced with an 'Every Older Person Matters' programme, central and local government leaders have said.
The man reviewing the UK's 'welfare to work' system will suggest a substantial transfer of responsibilities for long-term unemployed benefit recipients to the private and voluntary sectors.
Holyrood could face a radical shake-up after Scotland's May elections. So what difference would it make to public services? David Scott quizzes the key politicians
Despite the best efforts of the Disability Discrimination Act, too many disabled people are still treated as second-class citizens. The new equality duty on public sector organisations is intended to...
It's the end of the line for a lot of regulatory red tape in local government as Peter Rogers prepares to slash more than 60 Whitehall-controlled areas down to five. He explains his role
