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