Why seior managers are tied up on inquiries

摘要

They can cost millions, profoundly affect people's lives and careers, they can tie up staff and resources for months if not years - so perhaps now is the time for an inquiry into inquiries. Local authorities are often duty bound to hold inquiries when things go wrong. Indeed they are empowered to stage inquiries if things go right - although they rarely do. And yet despite several traumatic inquiries in recent years local authorities are without comprehensive guidance when they are faced with the need to hold such investigations. Now a SOLACE review group has revisited this problematic issue. A representative group of local government officers was joined by observers from Government departments, the Law Commission and the Council on Tribunals.