LGA chairman asks volunteers to speak out
Local Government Association chairman Lord Sandy Bruce-Lockhart has called upon members of the public sector to contribute to England’s largest ever volunteering consultation.
The Commission on the Future of Volunteering, of which Lord Bruce-Lockhart is a member, is engaged in laying out the long-term vision for the third sector in England and will use feedback to recommend how the landscape could be shaped over the next decade. Continue reading…
English councils apply for unitary status
Twenty-six English councils have applied to become unitary authorities as part of the government’s drive to improve efficiency in two-tier areas, local government secretary Ruth Kelly has confirmed.
Welcoming the proposals, the minister championed the scope for improved efficiency and stronger leadership that unitary status would afford certain councils, adding that such authorities could provide better value for money and potentially lower council tax. Continue reading…
Housing conditions on the rise
Overall conditions of housing in the UK have improved over the last 11 years, according to research published today.
The English House Condition Headline Report found the number of homes deemed non-decent dropped from 9.1 million to 6 million. The figures represent a fall from 45 per cent of houses in the UK failing to meet the standards to just 27 per cent. Continue reading…
Government must work with charities to tackle terrorism
The government must work with the charitable sector in order to reduce the threat of terrorism, according to a report published by the UK’s leading charities.
Charities have a significant role to play in diverting vulnerable people from destructive paths, a responsibility underestimated by the government, according to the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and other non-profit firms involved in the report.
“Excellent” Carrick Housing praised by public watchdog
Cornwall’s Carrick Housing has been adjudged by the Audit Commission to provide “excellent” housing services, with “promising prospects for improvement”.
The company responsible for a proportion of Carrick District Council’s tenants was awarded three stars out of a possible three by Britain’s independent public services watchdog.
