1 Introduction
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
2 Great Expectations - the position in 1997
The view of local government: the legacy of expectation
The view 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
3 The new approach to decision making in local government
The new Council Constitutions
The role of the Executive
The emerging roles of local councillors
Reforming local government representation at the centre
4 Promoting well being and the community's interest
Understanding the role of a general power of competence - the European Charter of self-governance
The duty to promote the economic, social and environmental well being of the communities being served
Promoting community leadership
Community leadership and the CPA
Community Strategies and LA21 - towards environmental well being
Community Strategies and Local Development Frameworks
Removing Plan requirements
5 Performance and Freedoms
The role of the Audit Commission
Best value: why competition?
Comprehensive Performance Assessment
Does performance assessment work?
Freedoms and flexibilities
6 Delivery with partners - procurement, privatisation, partnerships, trading and choice
Local authorities as employers
Joint service delivery between local authorities
The Lyons and Gershon Reviews: from central to local delivery?
The growing potential of the voluntary sector
7 Joining up around customers - the role of e-government
The problems of silo government for the citizen
Implementing e-government
Local implementation of e-government
Developing and implementing priority outcomes
The barriers to citizen engagement and delivery
Efficiency and e-government
Changing the citizen's relationship with government?
8 Councillors, Standards and Corruption
The system before the Local Government Act 2000
The Nolan Committee on Standards in Public Life
The Standards Board for England
The conduct of local authority staff
9 The future of local government finance
Local government's constitutional role and finance
Central and local discretions - assessing the boundaries
The continuing legacy of the Layfield Committee
The dynamic of efficiency
The use of property assets - an example of improving efficiency at the local level
A new freedom - the case of business rates
10 New Localism
Pressures for reduction in local powers
11 Local Strategic Partnerships - the way forward
Partnership working - programmes and policies
Local Strategic Partnerships
How effective are LSPs so far?
The future for LSPs, LAAs and Public Service Boards?
12 Parishes, Town Councils and Neighbourhood Working
Devolved working in local authorities
Emerging forms of local management
The role of Local Strategic Partnerships in neighbourhood development
13 Regions Sub-Regions and London
Regional working in England 1993-2004 - moving from central ways of working
How have these regional arrangements worked for local government in England?
14 What is the future of local government?
Shaping influences for the future of local government
Holding local government to account
Smaller numbers of professionalized councillors?
Creating a single pubic service
