Regular opinion pieces on issues of interest to public sector lawyers from PLC Public Sector and leading commentators.

Archive for December, 2010

Recommended actions for e-mail for week ending 22 December 2010

Thursday, December 23rd, 2010

PLC Public Sector reports: 

Make sure that you have not missed a key development in your area of the law by reviewing our latest list of recommended actions.

(more…)

The general power of competence: will it make a difference?

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010

PLC Public Sector reports:

The Localism Bill has just had its first reading in the House of Commons. As part of the aim of “lifting the burden of bureaucracy”, Article 1 includes the long wished for “general power of competence” enabling a local authority “to do anything that individuals generally may do…even though they are …unlike anything the authority or other public bodies may do”.

 

(more…)

Recommended actions for e-mail for week ending 15 December 2010

Friday, December 17th, 2010

PLC Public Sector reports: 

Make sure that you have not missed a key development in your area of the law by reviewing our latest list of recommended actions.

(more…)

Will the conduct provisions outlined in the Localism Bill be effective?

Wednesday, December 15th, 2010

As widely trailed before its introduction into Parliament, when it is passed the Localism Bill will revoke:

  • The national members’ code of conduct.
  • Abolish Standards for England.
  • Abolish the requirement for local authorities to have standards committees.

For more information, see Legal update, Abolition of the Standards Board regime.

(more…)

Recommended actions for e-mail for week ending 8 December 2010

Friday, December 10th, 2010

PLC Public Sector reports: 

Make sure that you have not missed a key development in your area of the law by reviewing our latest list of recommended actions.

(more…)

A strange approach to policy through procurement

Wednesday, December 8th, 2010

PLC Public Sector reports:

Attempting to achieve policy goals through public procurement spend is becoming increasingly popular (for example, see OGC guidance on social, equality and green issues and a recent Private Members’ Bill).  It is very difficult to argue with the concept, why shouldn’t taxpayers’ money be spent in a way that achieves the maximum possible effect? However, attempts to do so have generally fallen short of the mark, with the onus being placed on procurement officers to interpret very general guidance, rather than setting out simple steps to take or requirements to fulfil. 

Two recent examples of action taken in this area suggest that lessons may not have been learnt.

(more…)

Recommended actions for e-mail for week ending 1 December 2010

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010

PLC Public Sector reports: 

Make sure that you have not missed a key development in your area of the law by reviewing our latest list of recommended actions.

(more…)