Modern Local Government is a unique assessment of local government reform from the perspective of both local and central government, which is fully informed an analysis of the role of the European Union. This text provides a systematic review of the reform of local government since the election of New Labour in 1997.

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 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 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 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 Strategies 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? The best value process Comprehensive Performance Assessment Does performance assessment work? Intervention Capacity for delivery Freedoms and flexibilities 6 Delivery with partners - procurement, privatisation, partnerships, trading and choice 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 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 Planning The conduct of local authority staff Public service ethics 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 A new localist solution? 10 New Localism The rise of new localism Place shaping Pressures for reduction in local powers Culture and habit 11 Local Strategic Partnerships - the way forward Partnership working - programmes and policies Local Strategic Partnerships How are LSPs developing? How effective are LSPs so far? The future for LSPs, LAAs and Public Service Boards? 12 Parishes, Town Councils and Neighbourhood Working Developments since 1997 Parish and town councils 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 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 14 What is the future of local government? Shaping influences for the future of local government Holding local government to account Reputation management The choice agenda Using the third sector Smaller numbers of professionalized councillors? Public service reform Creating a single pubic service