Modern Local Government/

Chapter 1: Introduction
Why Local Government?
The Debate on Central-Local Relations
The Context of Local Government Reform
How Do They Do it Elsewhere?
The Notion of Social Capital
The Relationship between Local Performance and the Economy


Chapter 2: Great Expectations – The Position in 1997
Introduction
The View of Local Government: The Legacy of Expectation
The Concern of the 1997 New Labour Government: The Legacy of Fear
Paving the Way for Reform
Real Issues on the Agenda: Which Key Issues Did Local Authorities Face in 1997?


Chapter 3: New Approaches to Decision Making in Local Authorities
Introduction: Implementing Local Government Reform
The New Council Constitutions
Electoral Arrangements
The Role of the Council
The Role of the Executive
Scrutiny and Overview
The Emerging Roles of Local Councillors
Reforming Local Government Representation at the Centre


Chapter 4: Promoting Well-Being and the Community's Interest
Introduction
Understanding the Role of a General Power of Competence – The European Charter of Local Self-Governance
The Duty to Promote the Economic, Social, and Environmental Well-Being of the Communities Being Served
Promoting Community Leadership
Community Strategies
Community Leadership and CPA
Community Strategies and Local Agenda 21 (LA21): Towards Environmental Well-Being
Community Strategies and Local Development Frameworks (LDFs)
Removing Plan Requirements


Chapter 5: Performance and Freedoms
Introduction
The Role of the Audit Commission
Best Value: Why Competition?
The Best-Value Process
Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA)
Does Performance Assessment Work?
Intervention
Capacity for Delivery
Freedoms and Flexibilities

Chapter 6: Delivery with Partners – Procurement, Privatisation, Partnerships, Trading, and Choice
Introduction
Local Authorities as Employers
Privatisation
Joint Service Delivery between Local Authorities
Strategic Partnering
The Lyons and Gershon Reviews: From Central to Local Delivery?
Choice
The Growing Potential for the Voluntary Sector

Chapter 7: Joining-up around Customers – The Role of E-Government
Introduction
The Problems of Silo Government for the Citizen
Implementing Local E-Government
Local Implementation of E-Government
Developing and Implementing Priority Outcomes
The Barriers to Citizen Engagement and Delivery
Efficiency and E-Government
Conclusions: Changing the Citizen's Relationship with Government?

Chapter 8: Councillors, Standards, and Corruption
Introduction
The System before the Local Government Act 2000
The Nolan Committee on Standards in Public Life
The Standards Board for England
Planning
The Conduct of Local Authority Staff
Public Service Ethics



Chapter 9: The Future of Local Government Finance
Introduction
Local Government's Constitutional Role and Finance
Central Direction and Local Discretion – Assessing the Boundaries
The Continuing Legacy of the Layfield Committee
The Dynamics of Efficiency
The Use of Property Assets – An Example of Improving Efficiency at the Local Level
A New Freedom – The Case of Business Rates
A New Localist Solution?



Chapter 10: New Localism
Introduction
The Rise of New Localism
Place Shaping
Pressures for Reductions in Local Power
Culture and Habit



Chapter 11: Local Strategic Partnerships – The Way Forward
Introduction
Partnership Working – Programmes and Policies
Local Strategic Partnerships
How are LSPs Developing?
The Future for LSPs, LAAs, and Public Service Boards?



Chapter 12: Parishes, Town Councils, and Neighbourhood Working
Introduction
Developments since 1997
Parish and Town Councils
Devolved Working in Local Authorities
Emerging Forms of Local Management
Neighbourhood Development in the Future



Chapter 13: Regions, Sub-Regions, and London
Introduction
Why Regionalism?
Regional Working in England 1993–2004 – Moving from Central Ways of Working
Regionalising the Centre
How Have These Regional Arrangements Worked for Local Government in England?
Sub-Regions
London



Chapter 14: What is the Future of Local Government?
Introduction
Shaping Influences for the Future of Local Government