This pamphlet from the Innovation Forum presents case studies showing how innovative local government can be and how powerfully a council can affect the lives of the people it serves. The studies include Kent County Council's work to reduce hospital admissions and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council's success in bringing together 20 services from 12 different agencies to provide a single infrastructure of support for parents with young children These, and other innovations, were created through local government's ability to respond to the needs of local people and deliver the services that they want and need.The pamphlet goes beyond 'best practice' to 'next practice' by providing stories from successful local authorities that others can adapt and use as their own.
A committee of MPs believes an independent investigation of alleged breaches of the Ministerial Code is long overdue and has set out the elements it believes need to be in place for such a review to happen. The Public Administration Select Committee has today published, 'The Ministerial Code: the case for independent investigation'.
Local authorities are accused today of systematically failing to provide suitable accommodation and support for vulnerable children leaving custody. The Howard League for Penal Reform says this is not only a breach of the councils' statutory duties but that it also puts the public at risk of facing further crime.