A new pilot scheme has been launched today in Scotland that is designed to help the most vulnerable members of society receive benefit payments quicker.

The first of its kind in the UK, the pilot will see GPs forward Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance information electronically, making the payments process swifter and more efficient.

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Charity Commission chiefs have published a key report highlighting the work of Britain’s leading good causes.

The charity watchdog’s first summary information returns (SIR) review is designed to draw attention to the aims and achievements of the 5,000 charities in the UK with incomes in excess of £1 million.

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All 150 single tier and county councils in the UK met or exceeded the minimum financial management requirements set by the Audit Commission in 2006.

Three-quarters of the councils assessed by the independent body were found to surpass resourcing expectations, demonstrating a significant improvement in public money management nationwide.

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A survey of young councillors indicates that the majority would like to see salaries, childcare and pension support introduced.

More than eight in ten councillors around the country, aged between 18 and 40, struggle to hold down a full-time job while continuing to fulfil their duties as a local councillor, the survey by independent think-tank New Local Government Network (NLGN) reveals.

Eighty-four per cent agree that executive councillors are entitled to a salary, while over two-thirds of those surveyed feel that child support and a pension scheme is essential.

The NLGN has published the results in its new pamphlet entitled Local Government: Young at Heart?, which warns that councils will fail to represent their constituents unless younger people are encouraged to become councillors.

“Young councillors are the lifeblood of local government and local government needs to retain their talents to give it a future,” commented Anthony Brand, author of the publication.

“However, too often young councillors are forced to choose between staying in local government or forwarding their career or starting a family,” he continued.

“Better conditions for young councillors will not solve the problem in itself but will make a bold statement that society wants to keep the brightest and best young candidates in local government.”

The NLGN pamphlet can be downloaded via the think-tank’s website.

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Investment in communications technology has fuelled the growth of local authorities across the UK, a new survey has found.

Due to be published on January 11, the annual IT Trends survey from the Society of IT Management will reveal that successful e-government programmes have paved the way for the modernisation of local public services.

Information and communications technology (ICT) departments in councils around the country now have the extra capacity to make significant progress, Socitm’s IT Trends 2006/07 - the Modernisation of Public Services will conclude.

Local authorities will spend an estimated £2.7 billion on ICT in 2006/07, which is less than in 2004, but enough to ensure that Britain receives modern public services that are fit for purpose.

The figures demonstrate that “ICT departments have the capacity and capability to deliver what is required to meet the transformation agenda in local government”, according to Peter Ryder, president of Socitm, the firm that collected the data.

“Moreover, on key transformational issues like customer-centricity and shared services, IT Trends shows that ICT managers have a demonstrably positive and open-minded approach,” he added.

Socitm has been compiling the IT Trends in Local Government survey - which involves all 475 local authorities in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales - each year since 1987.

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