LocalGov elections: Being vigilant ahead of the local elections
Ahead of the local elections next month, Owen Prendeville, Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), offers tips for protecting against cyber attacks.
Marble Arch Mound’s finances ‘mismanaged and misrepresented’
21/10/2021 An internal review of Westminster City Council’s Marble Arch Mound project has revealed that ‘errors in judgement’ and a ‘lack of sufficient oversight’ led to the project’s costs spiralling out of control. |
A toolkit for good governance
11/03/2021 Launched this week, a new framework for examining complex local governance challenges focused on behaviours and culture provides a ‘common language’ to talk about risk, says Lord Bob Kerslake. |
Councils call for clarity on local lockdowns
16/06/2020 Councils this week called for clarity on the legal powers they will have if they are forced to implement local coronavirus lockdowns. |
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Council leadership needs to have oversight of the entire AI system
10/02/2020 Council leaders need to provide ‘proper accountability’ for AI technology and staff cannot take a ‘computer says no’ approach, according to the chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life. |
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What next for the Environment Bill?
04/12/2019 Simon Colvin explores what local government needs to know about the Environment Bill. |
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Council governance systems ‘inadequate’ for austerity era
15/05/2019 The Government has not done enough to ensure that governance systems in local authorities are suitable for an ‘era of financial pressure and rapid change’, MPs have warned. |
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Open up to scrutiny
09/05/2019 For many councils scrutiny has failed to live up to its potential, says Ed Hammond. But he hopes new statutory guidance out today will help them take active steps to promote and support the function. |
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Councils urged to 'embrace scrutiny'
08/05/2019 Councils have been urged to ‘embrace scrutiny’ of their spending decisions in new guidance issued by the Government. |
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Scottish councils lose over £120m due to ‘weak’ financial controls
11/04/2019 Systems to prevent public money being lost to mistakes and fraud in local government ‘may be under strain’, Audit Scotland has warned. |
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Auditors call for Welsh councils to make scrutiny ‘fit for the future’
12/02/2019 Auditors in Wales have outlined the six steps that Welsh councils need to take in order to improve overview and scrutiny functions. |
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Calls for a 'radical rethink' on local government failure
11/12/2018 The established ways of thinking about and addressing failure in local government are no longer fit for purpose, a new discussion paper has warned. |
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LEPs told to improve ahead of EU funding changes
06/09/2018 Fresh concerns have emerged about local enterprise partnerships (LEP) as the Government considers whether to use them to funnel UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) cash. |
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What the fire taught us
14/06/2018 After Grenfell, changes to governance and consultation were the recommendations of a study for Kensington & Chelsea RLBC by the Centre for Public Scrutiny, and the Democratic Society. Jacqui McKinlay explains. |
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Government oversight of LEPs not good enough, MPs say
16/03/2018 The Public Accounts Committee has stressed its lack of faith in the Government’s oversight of local enterprise partnerships in a critical report published today. |
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Report demands new accountability powers for local government
26/02/2018 Academics have demanded a raft of tools to enable local government to hold to account the ‘chaotic network’ of agencies involved in providing public services. |
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Committees launch joint inquiry on long-term care funding
24/01/2018 A pair of Commons select committees has joined forces to launch an inquiry on the long-term funding and provision of adult social care. |
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LEP moves to become 'most transparent' in England
16/01/2018 A local enterprise partnership (LEP) that had funding restrictions slapped on it by the Government has approved transparency measures that go beyond national guidance. |
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The top 10 things local government can expect in 2018
10/01/2018 Tiffany Cloynes outlines her predictions for the top 10 issues for local government in 2018. |
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‘Culture change’ needed to improve local government scrutiny, MPs say
15/12/2017 A 'culture change' is needed to make sure decisions taken by council leaders are properly scrutinised, MPs have warned. |
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Local government accountability inquiry ‘long overdue’, MPs say
24/01/2017 MPs today announced the launch of a ‘long overdue’ inquiry into overview and scrutiny in local government. |
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Taxpayers denied full access to information on public spending
27/09/2016 The taxpayer is being prevented from fully scrutinising the way public funds are spent, anti-corruption group warns. |
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Council pension fund supports working practices review of Sports Direct
24/08/2016 A local government pensions body has backed calls for a review into the working practices at Sports Direct. |
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MPs warn devolution deals 'lack transparency'
01/07/2016 The government’s approach to devolution, including timetabling, accountability and transparency, have come under fire today in a new report from MPs. |
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The dog that did not bark
30/06/2016 After his FOI request on government funding to councils was blocked, Graham Chapman says serious questions must still be answered over distribution. |
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Watchdog calls for improved scrutiny of public spending
04/05/2016 The increased used of outsourcing and devolution to local areas is undermining Parliament's ability to hold the Government to account, the public spending watchdog is warning today. |
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Devolution must be more openly negotiated, urges MPs
03/02/2016 The government’s devolution agenda has been characterised by a lack of clear objectives, rushed negotiations, and insufficient openness, according to select committee. |
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Scottish Parliament launches probe of arm’s length council operations
23/09/2015 The way in which councils in Scotland use arm’s length bodies to deliver local services is to be examined by MSPs to ensure they are accountable and provide value for money. |
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Think tanks calls for greater transparency in devolution deals
08/09/2015 Councils should put transparency at the heart of any devolution deal, the Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS) is warning. |
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Falkirk Council urged to be more ambitious by spending watchdog
27/08/2015 Falkirk Council must commit to ‘a more ambitious’ financial plan if it is to secure £46m savings over the next three years, a public spending watchdog is warning. |
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Rotherham to remain under Government control until 2019
25/08/2015 The Government has said it is likely to take four years until full powers are returned to Rotherham Council following intervention after a sexual abuse scandal emerged in 2014. |
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Tower Hamlets aims to become transparency ‘beacon’ with launch of commission
04/08/2015 Tower Hamlets has launched a commission to examine how it can improve transparency, after revelations about historic corruption forced an election re-run. |
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Innovation in inertia – the cultural barrier
31/07/2015 Why councils need to overcome cultural barriers and the skills gaps to achieve transformational change. |
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Review to probe links between care and custody
23/06/2015 A review has been launched to find new ways to end the 'depressing route from care to custody' experienced by vulnerable teenagers. |
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Kerslake to head scrutiny charity
02/06/2015 Lord Bob Kerslake, who rose from being CEO at two local authorities to become head of the civil service and permanent secretary to the Department of Communities and Local Government, is to take up the position of chair at the Centre for Public Scrutiny. |
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Councils urged to work together on scrutiny
30/04/2015 A new guide to help councils work together on scrutiny and improve accountability has been launched. |
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Scottish councils urged to better control borrowing
19/03/2015 Scottish councillors must improve scrutiny over borrowing if local authorities are to manage their near £15bn of debt – auditors have warned. |
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Poll reveals questions over effectiveness of council scrutiny
10/02/2015 Scrutiny of council decisions varies 'widely' across the country while opinion is 'divided' on local effectiveness, research suggests. |
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Councils warned structural change will not prevent service failures
09/02/2015 Councils have been urged to ‘resist the temptation’ to make structural changes in the wake of the Rotherham scandal by the Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS). |
Shell is helping power the journey towards a circular paving industry with Shell Bitumen LT R, a new product for roads that uses plastics destined for landfill as part of the additives to make the bitumen.
Effective Energy Group is now offering its support to the 40 Local Authorities who have received a share of the £430m to deliver their projects on the ground by surveying properties and installing measures.
Dougie Belmore explains how one of the main interfaces between you and Bacs is about to change.
