Monthly Archives: July 2010

Welfare reform: not so simple, by Stuart Adam & James Browne

30 July 2010 | Stuart Adam

The Department of Work and Pensions today published a consultation paper called 21st Century Welfare which sets out ideas for fundamental reforms to the benefits system. Read more...

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Council tax conundrum, by Barry Maginn

30 July 2010 | Barry Maginn

‘If councils want to increase council tax further, they will have to prove the case to the electorate. Let the people decide.’ Read more...

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On a role, by Tim Crowley

30 July 2010 | Tim Crowley

As internal audit becomes ever more vital, CIPFA is consulting on the main requirements for the head of the department Read more...

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Scenting the opportunities, by David Lipsey

30 July 2010 | David Lipsey

Strangely, Labour is looking upbeat. With an earnest leadership campaign and some worrying tensions in the coalition, there are signs of new shoots Read more...

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Radical recipe for Scotland, by Don Peebles

29 July 2010 | Don Peebles

The recent vogue for independent budget advice for governments at both national and devolved level has now had its most recent addition with today’s publication in Scotland of the much-awaited Independent Budget Review. Read more...

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Cutting edge, by Mike Thatcher

29 July 2010 | Mike Thatcher

Is the time ripe for a surge in outsourcing across our public services? A number of commentators think so, with the Guardian recently declaring that the ‘austerity drive will hand billions’ to the private sector. Read more...

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The whole truth about police reform, by Craig Baker

27 July 2010 | Craig Baker

Consider these words: ‘We have found an urgent need for the different parts of the criminal justice system to work together. At its simplest, each part of the system has little regard for the consequences of its actions on the other parts. This means that resources are not always used effectively. Further, few of the players are focused on the overall aim of crime reduction.’ Read more...

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Quango quandary, by Alan Trench

27 July 2010 | Alan Trench

News of the UK Government’s plan to cut a number of quangos raises immediate devolution concerns.  I can’t pretend to understand how the UK Film Council relates to bodies promoting the film industry elsewhere, like the former Scottish Screen (now part of Creative Scotland); there may well be overlap and duplication, even if such bodies have different remits.  But two raise immediate concerns. Read more...

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A step into the dark, by Tony Travers

26 July 2010 | Tony Travers

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High anxiety over academies, by Chris Keates

26 July 2010 | Chris Keates

The Academies Bill is entering its final stage in the Commons today having been bludgeoned through by the government. Read more...

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