BS1033 Local Government

1
BS1033 Local Government Continuity and Change

• 1.Local government structure and functions

2
BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change1. Local Government Structure and
Functions

• LOCAL GOVERNMENT
• One pole of the continuum is the local
  administration of essentially national policies
• Another is a full federal structure (e.g.
  Germany)
• UK has strong traditions of local autonomy which
  has declined over the years as central
  governments have sought to contain expenditures,
  establish uniformity of service etc.)

3
BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change1. Local Government Structure and
Functions

• SERVICES PROVIDED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT
• Protective (fire, police, consumer protection)
• Environmental (local roads,transport, planning,
  refuse collection and recycling)
• Personal (education, social services,housing)
• Recreational (parks, sports facilities, theatres,
  art galleries, libraries)
• Promotional (employment creation, tourism)
• Regulatory (implementing regulations and
  monitoring standards)

4
BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change1. Local Government Structure and
Functions

• How local is local government ?
• Collective investment (roads, telecommunications,
  defence) provided by the centre
• Collective consumption (social services,
  education) provided locally
• Problem is to provide national standards within a
  service responsive to local needs

5
BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change1. Local Government Structure and
Functions

• Local Government Structure during 20th C.
• 82 County Boroughs
• 58 counties in which
• Municipal boroughs
• Urban districts
• Rural districts

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BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change1. Local Government Structure and
Functions

• Local Government Acts 1972, 1974
• Now 58 county councils, within which were 333
  district councils
• Six metropolitan counties (Greater
  Manchester,Merseyside, West Midlands, Tyne and
  Wear, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire)

7
BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change1. Local Government Structure and
Functions

• Local Government Acts 1985
• Six Mets and GLC abolished (because they were
  socialist ?)
• Major spending services (fire, police, public
  transport, probation) transferred to joint boards

8
BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change1. Local Government Structure and
Functions

• Local Government Acts 1996,1998
• In 1996, Scotland and Wales had unitary
  authorities
• In 1998, English pattern evolved into
• 34 Counties238 District Councils
• 46 new unitary authorities
• London to have an elected mayor (Ken Livingstone)

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BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change1. Local Government Structure and
Functions

• Local Government Who does what ?
• County Councils (planning, highways,social
  services,education, libraries,fire)
• District Councils (environmental health,
  housing,leisure services,waste collection)
• Notice impact of CCT, Best Value etc.

10
BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change1. Local Government Structure and
Functions

• A new magistracy?
• Now local governance rather than local
  government as powers transferred
• Local authority appointees removed (health)
• Functions transferred to quangos (education,new
  police authorities)
• Bodies opt out e.g. Housing
  Associations,self-governing trusts in Health

11
BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change1. Local Government Structure and
Functions

• A New Magistracy ?
• 66,000 members outnumber local councillors 31
• Tend to come from local business communities
• Hotch-potch which 19th C reforms meant to
  eliminate

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BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change1. Local Government Structure and
Functions

• Recent Developments
• July 1998 White Paper Modern Local Government In
  Touch with the People indicates duties of local
  authorities to promote economic well-being
• 100 Beacon councils to be created as examples
  to the rest
• Whole emphasis is partnerships (with private
  sector)

13
BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change1. Local Government Structure and
Functions

• British Council Local Government Reform
• Background
• 19th C origins (since 1835) giving multi-purpose
  authorities
• 1970s reorganisations bring tiers
• Controlled principally by the centre (approx. 60
  expenditure)

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BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change1. Local Government Structure and
Functions

• British Council Local Government Reform
• 2. Change in Local Government (1)
• a commitment to competition
• a separation of responsibility for a service from
  service provision
• the development of an enabling role
• a clearer relationship between paying for and
  receiving a service

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BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change1. Local Government Structure and
Functions

• British Council Local Government Reform
• 2. Change in Local Government (2)
• greater emphasis on customer choice
• greater scope for individual and private sector
  provision
• challenge of producer interests within local
  government
• commitment to developing more businesslike
  management.

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BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change1. Local Government Structure and
Functions

• British Council Local Government Reform
• 3. Restructuring Services
• CCT (Compulsory Competitive Tendering)
• LMS (Local Management of Schools)
• Housing more choice for tenants
• Social services mixed economy
• Urban regeneration

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BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change1. Local Government Structure and
Functions

• British Council Local Government Reform
• 4. Structural Change
• Abolitions of the Metropolitan Authorities
• Unitary authorities (not universally!) for the
  large cities, otherwise a two tier system
• E.g. Southamptonunitary, HCCWinchester City
  Counciltwo tier

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BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change1. Local Government Structure and
Functions

• British Council Local Government Reform
• 4. Impact of the Programme of Change
• Reduced local choice
• Fragmentation
• Problems of accountability
• Institutional instability

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BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change1. Local Government Structure and
Functions

• Now we have Modernising Local Government with
  emphasis on
• Best Value
• Partnerships
• e-government
• Accessible services

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BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change1. Local Government Structure and
Functions

• White Paper Strong Local Leadership - Quality
  Public Services
• As December, 2001, plans have been announced for
  Council League Tables in which there are
• High-performing councils (much more autonomy)
• Striving Councils (a degree of autonomy)
• Coasting Councils (little autonomy)
• Poor performing councils (face transfer of
  functions)

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BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change1. Local Government Structure and
Functions

• Comprehensive Performance Assessment started in
  February 2001
• http//society.guardian.co.uk/bestvalue/story/0,81
  50,649054,00.html