Useful Links
Scrutiny- General
Centre for Public Scrutiny
The Centre for Public Scrutiny has been created to promote the value of scrutiny in modern and effective government - not only to hold executives to account but also to create a constructive dialogue between the public and its elected representatives - to improve the quality of public services.
The Scrutiny Map
This section contains information on the range of bodies engaged in public scrutiny. It also provides resources that will be useful for those with an interest in each area.
The Good Scrutiny Guide
The Good Scrutiny Guide defines four principles of effective public scrutiny.
Realising the Potential of Scrutiny: Research and Recommendations on the Overview and Scrutiny function in Local Government (2003/4)
A new report by the New Local Government Network (NLGN) is calling on local authorities to address the extent to which overview and scrutiny is not yet embedded in the culture of their organisation
Putting the Public First through Performance Management (2006)
a briefing which looks at how to ensure a user and citizen focus to performance management.
Inspection
Audit Commission
The Audit Commission is an independent public body responsible for ensuring that public money is spent economically, efficiently, and effectively in the areas of local government, housing, health, criminal justice and fire and rescue services.
National Audit Office
The National Audit Office scrutinises public spending on behalf of Parliament. They are totally independent of Government.
Ofsted
Ofsted is the inspectorate for children and learners in England. It is our job to contribute to the provision of better education and care through effective inspection and regulation.
IDeA
The Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) works in partnership with all councils, to enhance the performance of the best, accelerate the speed of improvement of the rest, and develop the sector as a whole. They excel at creating local solutions for local needs by combining visionary goals with highly professional management.
Local Government
Local Government Association
The LGA exists to promote better local government. We work with and for our member authorities to realise a shared vision of local government that enables local people to shape a distinctive and better future for their locality and its communities. We aim to put local councils at the heart of the drive to improve public services and to work with government to ensure that the policy, legislative and financial context in which they operate, supports that objective.
London Councils
London Councils is a cross-party organisation, funded and run by member authorities to work on behalf of them all, regardless of political persuasion. They act as the employers’ organisation for the 32 London boroughs, providing advice, support and training, and representing them in negotiations.
Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority
The official website for the Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority.
The Department for Communities and Local Government (Formerly Office of the Deputy Prime Minister)
The job of the Department for Communities and Local Government is to help create sustainable communities, working with other government departments, local councils, businesses, the voluntary sector, and communities themselves.
National Government
Government Office for London
Work representingten central Government Departments in the capital, delivering their policies and programmes.
Information for Local Government from Central Government
Info4local provides local authorities with quick and easy access to information from more than 65 government departments, agencies and public bodies. It is run by a group of seven departments, with the Department for Communities and Local Government in the lead.
Local Government Information Unit
The Local Government Information Unit is an independent research and information organisation. We represent the interests of local authorities by providing practical, independent advice, resources and training
General - Local
Team Hackney
Team Hackney consists of a family of partnerships that specialise in different areas of expertise. At the centre is the Team Hackney Board, chaired by the elected Mayor of Hackney, Jules Pipe. The Team Hackney Board oversees the work of five other ‘themed’ partnerships.
The City and Hackney Primary Care Trust
Primary care trusts (PCTs) covering all parts of England receive budgets directly from the Department. Since April 2002, PCTs have taken control of local health care while strategic Health Authorities monitor performance and standards. The City and Hackney Primary Care Trust was formed on 1st April 2001.
The East London Business Alliance
Composed of over 120 major City and Canary Wharf companies with a particular focus in East London. Every year the alliance places 7,000 private sector volunteers supporting some 500 East End organisations and has built a reputation for delivering award winning programmes.
With the coming of the Olympics to East London, many new companies have joined ELBA's Legacy 2020 programme which aims to help East London capture the benefits of hosting the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. With the Games on the horizon, we are now gearing up to help the East End make the most of this opportunity.
Groundwork East London
A charity that supports environmental regeneration in deprived areas within east London. It has been delivering practical and sustainable improvements with communities since 1994. Working primarily in the London borough’s of Hackney, Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Newham, it is expanding to include the London boroughs of Waltham Forest and Redbridge.
The Hackney Enterprise Network
Launched in 2004 to strengthen the voice of small businesses. It has over 270 members whose businesses span a wide range of industry sectors and ethnicities.
Hackney Homes
Responsible for managing more than 30,000 council homes in Hackney. This includes collecting rent, carrying out repairs, ongoing maintenance of estates, cleaning and grounds maintenance, providing specialist services for leaseholders and dealing with issues between neighbours such as harassment and nuisance. Hackney Homes is a not for profit organisation set up by the Council to manage their homes.
Hanover in Hackney
The leading provider of housing and support services for older people in Hackney, looking after over 800 properties in Hackney. Its 24 hour response service, the Emergency Response Team, helps nearly 3,000 older people with support needs to live independently in their own homes. An independent subsidiary of the Hanover Housing Group, Hanover in Hackney manages a central register for all properties for older people in Hackney on behalf of the council.
Hackney Council for Voluntary Service (HCVS)
Hackney's leading voluntary and community sector support agency. HCVS offer funding, information, training and resources to over 1,400 local voluntary and community groups. They are the accountable body for the Community Empowerment Network and the Youth Futures project, tackling gun and gang violence.
The Learning Trust
The not-for-profit company which runs all the education services for the London Borough of Hackney. This includes schools, day nurseries, the play service and adult education.
Renaisi
An independent not-for-profit company specialising in the design, development and delivery of regeneration projects and programmes. Its clients include central and local government, public sector agencies, voluntary and community sector organisationsand private organisations. Renaisi accesses a range of public and private funding sources.
Page updated: 21 Oct 2008