Sue Robb of 4Children talks to Julie Laughton and Alison Britton from the Department for Education about the role of childminders in delivering the 30 hours free entitlement.
The Communities and Local Government Committee has stated that a 'culture change' is needed within local authorities to ensure decisions are correctly scrutinised.
The committee’s report says that scrutiny, which is often ‘marginalised’, is not held in high enough esteem, which causes a lack of constructive challenge to improve services for residents.
The group urge for further measures to strengthen the independence of overview and scrutiny committees at combined authorities, Local Economic Partnerships (LEPs) and arm’s-length bodies, as well as a new reporting system that better mirrors the relationship between celect committees and Parliament.
Clive Betts, chair of the committee, said: "Scrutiny is marginalised at too many local authorities, which in extreme cases can contribute to severe service failures, letting down council taxpayers and those that rely on services. Scrutiny of those in power is a vital part of any democratic system and has huge benefits for all. We are calling on the government to strengthen guidance to make overview and scrutiny committees truly independent of those they are charged with holding to account and to make sure the process is properly funded and respected. Only by rebalancing the system and ensuring scrutiny is held in high esteem will we see better decisions and the outcomes that residents who pay for council services deserve."
Sue Robb of 4Children talks to Julie Laughton and Alison Britton from the Department for Education about the role of childminders in delivering the 30 hours free entitlement.
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Food, Drink & Hospitality Week comes to ExCeL London on 25-27 March for three busy days of networking, product sourcing and learning about the very latest industry trends.
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The Workplace Event 2024
In an era marked by rapid technological advancements, shifting workplace cultures, and an increased focus on employee well-being, The Workplace Event (TWE) 2024 emerges as a beacon of insight, innovation, and inspiration. Taking place from April 30 - May 2 2024 at the NEC Birmingham, TWE brings together over 5,000 workplace and facilities management professionals.
ICS.AI, a leader in UK public sector AI transformation, announces expanded partnership with Derby
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Robyn Quick investigates how funding from the cancelled part of HS2 is being reallocated to road maintenance across the country.