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Local government studies

In the past the Audit Commission's national studies helped public bodies manage the financial challenges they faced by providing authoritative, unbiased, evidence-based analysis and advice.

Our research focused on financial and other management issues in local public services. It drew on analysis of local and national data and aimed to help councils, NHS bodies and other local agencies review and challenge their arrangements and performance.

We have now produced a series of local government briefings on different themes to summarise our work in areas we are no longer researching, such as sustainable development, and benefits services. These briefings capture key messages from the Commission’s research in these areas, and provide links to relevant national publications, case studies and tools. You can access the briefings via the link on the left-hand side of this page.

We have also produced briefings for other sectors including housing, community safety, fire and rescue, and children and young people.

A full A-Z list of local government studies and a list of studies for other sectors are also available

 
 
Local payment by results
Briefing: Payment by results for local services
5 April 2012
A new Audit Commission briefing considers the potential benefits for local authorities of using payment by results, the risks involved and how to mitigate them.
Work in progress
Meeting local needs with lower workforce costs
7 December 2011
The Audit Commission and Local Government Association joint report 'Work in progress: Meeting local needs with lower workforce costs'.
Joining up health and social care
Improving value for money across the interface
1 December 2011
Our latest briefing has found significant differences in the types of care received by people aged 65 and over across the country.
Tough times
Councils’ responses to a challenging financial climate
17 November 2011
The Audit Commission has published Tough times, a new report looking at councils’ responses to a challenging financial climate.
Protecting the public purse 2011
Protecting the public purse 2011
Fighting fraud against local government
10 November 2011
England's councils have succeeded in detecting £185 million worth of fraud, an improvement of 37 per cent on last year's figure of £135 million. This is equivalent to a year's funding for around 700 ...
Improving value for money in adult social care
2 June 2011
This briefing looks at value for money in adult social care, and considers what councils might do to provide better, more efficient services.
Going the distance - Achieving better value for money in road maintenance
26 May 2011
This national report looks at what councils can do to get more for their money in road maintenance, in the face of increasing traffic, severe winters, higher costs, and dwindling highways funding.
Better Value for Money in Schools
31 March 2011
These four briefings are designed to help schools make the best use of their workforce - whether teachers, teaching assistants, or administration and finance staff - at a time when they have to find ...