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Accountability in local service delivery

As part of central government's decision to give more power to Councils and other local bodies (eg in healthcare), local organisations now decide how to spend hundreds of billion each year. Parliament and the public expect this spending to be efficient and effective and achieve the intended aims. Central government sets these aims, while local organisations decide how to spend the funding based on local needs and priorities. The public must be told how the money is spent and what outcomes have been achieved so that local electorates can be sure the money is spent well and can question decisions.

Central government must also be sure that the spending is achieving the desired outcomes and value for money. It is also responsible for protecting customers and making sure that where services fail, customers can get redress, including from local government and health Ombudsmen.

Key NAO publications: Public service markets: Putting things right when they go wrong (Jun 2015); and Local government funding: Assurance to Parliament (Jun 2014)

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Public service markets: Putting things right when they go wrong

Over 10 million people who used public services (about 1 in 5) in the UK last year faced problems with the services. Detriment can and does occur. But users find the complaints and redress systems confusing.

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Published:
17 Jun 2015
Patient discussion

Planning for the Better Care Fund

The Better Care Fund is an innovative idea but the quality of early preparation and planning did not match the scale of the ambition. Current plans forecast £314m of savings for the NHS rather than the £1 billion in early planning assumptions.

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Published:
11 Nov 2014