A new scheme to ensure public money is well spent is to be piloted in Croydon.
The total place initiative will see local partners scrutinise how public money is used to ensure there are no overlaps or waste.
The different pilots will look at everything from spending on crime prevention to housing.
In Croydon, the focus will be on how the area looks after children’s health and wellbeing, especially child development.
It is one of 13 authorities taking part in the scheme, which is backed by £5m funding from the government.
Communities Secretary John Denham, who announced the scheme, said it was not just about saving money but improving services too.
He said: “Total Place is about looking at all the money coming in, where it is being spent, and what needs to change in order to make sure those services really live up to the ideal.”
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