COVER FEATURE - Mayors for all reasons - Last time round, ministers' plans for elected mayors were foiled by voters. Now they are turning envious eyes on Ken Livingstones role in London. Watch out for the return of the policy, but this time for super mayors

A little local difficulty - Kent county council says the cost of looking after the growing influx of asylum seekers from east and southern Europe is costing more than u1m. Money it says cannot now be spent on local needs.

Harding, David, (1997)

Sea changes - A breath of New Labour blew into the seaside venue of this year's CIPFA Northern Ireland conference for public sector accountants.

Harding, David, (1997)

Putting down routes - The first steps to constitutional reform have been taken. But Labour's route to a New Britain also includes the regions. David Harding looks at how the proposed regional development agencies may change local government

Harding, David, (1997)