Central Government's Communication and Engagement with Local Government: Department for Communities and Local Government

HC 187, Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Session 2012-13

Author:

National Audit Office (NAO)

Publisher:

TSO (The Stationery Office)

Price: £16.00

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As more responsibility passes to local Government, local authorities are playing a vital role in the Government's decentralisation agenda, and substantial reductions in staff are causing pressure; 'Central Government's Communication and Engagement with Local Government: Department for Communities and Local Government (HC 187)' reports on how central Government must communicate and engage with local Government to improve efficiency.

The organisational differences between central and local Government make communication very challenging. Where departments are designing services for local delivery, the operational experience of local authorities is important to the effective design and implementation of programmes.

The NAO's work across Government has demonstrated that failing to consult local delivery partners early can lead to a high risk of waste and 'optimism bias' that can result in failure of the programmes.

Some policy consultations are rushed. Departments also issue a disproportionate number of consultations just before parliamentary recess and holiday periods making it difficult to co-ordinate their work on them.

Though most individual communications between central and local Government are of good quality, poor ones can still have a significant impact. The standards and oversight of communications are not systematic enough to eliminate the risk of poor communications slipping through.

Extent	38 pages	ISBN	9780102977134
Size	A4	Price	£16.00
Format	Paperback	Published	13 Jun 2012
Availability	Colour copy: 3 - 5 days	Delivery	Delivery options and charges