20/03/2025

A new online information site for scrutiny teams at Birmingham CC should lead to a better understanding of risk after the Oracle IT scandal, councillor says.

06/02/2025

The Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) of Shropshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council has written to health and social care secretary Wes Streeting about concerns over the performance of Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust (SaTH).

27/01/2025

Dudley MBC is expected to save £1.2m from its senior management restructure, a meeting of the council's overview and scrutiny committee has been told.

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.

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.

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.

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.

04/12/2019

Simon Colvin explores what local government needs to know about the Environment Bill.

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.

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.

08/05/2019

Councils have been urged to ‘embrace scrutiny’ of their spending decisions in new guidance issued by the Government.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

10/01/2018

Tiffany Cloynes outlines her predictions for the top 10 issues for local government in 2018.

15/12/2017

A 'culture change' is needed to make sure decisions taken by council leaders are properly scrutinised, MPs have warned.

24/01/2017

MPs today announced the launch of a ‘long overdue’ inquiry into overview and scrutiny in local government.

27/09/2016

The taxpayer is being prevented from fully scrutinising the way public funds are spent, anti-corruption group warns.

24/08/2016

A local government pensions body has backed calls for a review into the working practices at Sports Direct.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

08/09/2015

Councils should put transparency at the heart of any devolution deal, the Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS) is warning.

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.

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.

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.

31/07/2015

Why councils need to overcome cultural barriers and the skills gaps to achieve transformational change.

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.

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.

30/04/2015

A new guide to help councils work together on scrutiny and improve accountability has been launched.

19/03/2015

Scottish councillors must improve scrutiny over borrowing if local authorities are to manage their near £15bn of debt – auditors have warned.

10/02/2015

Scrutiny of council decisions varies 'widely' across the country while opinion is 'divided' on local effectiveness, research suggests.

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).