Union announces month-long overtime ban - The Guardian

Following strike action across the country earlier this week which saw thousands of teachers, lecturers and civil servants walk out over pensions, the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) has announced a month-long ban on overtime by its members. The union claim the ban will hit public sector employers hard and continue to highlight concerns over reduced pension pots and longer working lives. The government said that around 80% of the union's members did not strike yesterday and that there was less disruption than expected.

Council introduces dog control orders

Warwick District Council has introduced control orders to prevent dog owners from letting their dogs off the lead in some areas. The council made the decision in response to concerns about owners failing to clean up after their pets, as well as some reports of dangerous dogs. The news lead to petitions and some protest by owners who are concerned that the council could introduce the orders across wider areas. Richard Hall, head of environmental services at the council, said: "From the public feedback, it appears that the original wording of the dogs exclusion order has led to concerns that the council could extend this to other areas without prior consultation. There are definitely no plans in the future to designate any other areas."

Pickles: 'Audit Commission became a tool of new Labour'

Communities secretary Eric Pickles has said the Audit Commission, which will soon be axed, became "a tool of new Labour". He said: "they became the tool of New Labour and I didn't want them to become my tool. I wanted something independent. But there's nothing wrong with the auditing function, they do it very well." The government plan to axe the Audit Commission and shift the auditing of local government to the private sector from 2012 in order to save money.