Highlights from Public Finance magazine, May

 

If you can't see the Public Finance Daily email below click here to view the web version   Highlights from the May issue of Public Finance - the official magazine of CIPFA   13 May 2014 | Public Finance Home | Contact us | Sign up         Taking it to the max? By Iain Macwhirter As the polls in Scotland’s referendum race narrow, all the parties are offering radical fiscal changes that could have a big impact throughout the UK. Even if Scotland votes No, it seems highly likely that there will be some form of English parliament, writes Iain Macwhirter in the latest Public Finance cover feature...       Features Pensions reform: Steve Webb interview Annuities reform was the big ticket item in the chancellor’s Budget, but at what cost to the public purse? Judy Hirst talks to pensions minister Steve Webb about freedom, choice – and spending it all on a Lamborghini... Welsh devolution: the Silk road When David Cameron and Nick Clegg crossed the Severn to hand over new fiscal powers to the Welsh Assembly, they kept a ‘lockstep’ on income tax. But there’s no turning back from the new chapter in devolution devised by the Silk Commission. Vivienne Russell reports... Nigel Edwards interview, by Mike Thatcher With huge changes to NHS structures and culture, it’s an exciting time to be working in health policy. Nigel Edwards, the new chief executive of the Nuffield Trust thinktank, talks to PF about finance, fantasy solutions and control freaks... More features     News Cities guru calls for more fiscal freedom Increased fiscal devolution to cities is a ‘necessity’ to boost the growth rate of the UK, leading economist Jim O'Neill has told Public Finance... Treasury guidance to help councils make reform case A new government tool to improve the cost-benefit analysis of public service reforms could help councils make the case for local changes that improve provision and cut costs, according to a senior figure involved in its development... Local elections: counting down to polling day The impact of the European elections on next week's council votes is the great unknown as people head to the polls to determine control of local authorities across the country... More news     Opinion Nobody likes us … By Tony Travers There is little love lost for the major parties ahead of local and European elections. The future is unclear and, as a result, policy-making has an air of desperation... Devolution revolution? By Mike Thatcher All the main political parties support greater devolution, but governments often don’t deliver on these promises. A culture change is needed that sets local control as the default option... Bad service? Blame the system, by Lord Bichard When things go wrong in public services, we blame individuals and rush for structural reorganisation. It’s better to focus on systemic change at a local level... Wanted: local vision, by Graham Allen The Labour leader has made a start with proposals for enterprise and extra ministers for the regions, but a permanent shift of power out of Whitehall is needed... More opinion     Top jobs Senior Accountant London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham  P01-P04, £31,464 - £40,911  Team Administrator and Co-ordinator Hudson  £18 - £25 per hour IFRS Audit Specialist Reed Finance  £42,000 - £50,000 per annum + package  Trustees with investment and financial experience Stroke Association Voluntary   More public finance jobs Jobs: South East Jobs: North West Jobs: East Mid. Jobs: West Mid. More regions CIPFA Publications Events     Click here to unsubscribe from this email