BS1033 Local Government Continuity

and Change

1.Local government structure and

functions
BS1033 Local Government Continuity and Change
1. 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.)
 BS1033 Local Government Continuity and Change
1. 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)
BS1033 Local Government Continuity and Change
1. 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
 BS1033 Local Government Continuity and Change
1. Local Government Structure and Functions

Local Government: Structure during 20th C.

82 County Boroughs
58 counties in which
Municipal boroughs
Urban districts
Rural districts
 BS1033 Local Government Continuity and Change
1. 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)
 BS1033 Local Government Continuity and Change
1. 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
 BS1033 Local Government Continuity and Change
1. 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 Counties+238 District Councils
46 new unitary authorities
London to have an elected mayor (Ken Livingstone)
 BS1033 Local Government Continuity and Change
1. 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.
 BS1033 Local Government Continuity and Change
1. 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
 BS1033 Local Government Continuity and Change
1. Local Government Structure and Functions

A New Magistracy ?
66,000 members outnumber local councillors 3:1
Tend to come from local business communities
Hotch-potch which 19th C reforms meant to
eliminate
 BS1033 Local Government Continuity and Change
1. 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)
 BS1033 Local Government Continuity and Change
1. Local Government Structure and Functions

British Council Local Government Reform

1. Background
19th C origins (since 1835) giving multi-purpose
authorities
1970s reorganisations bring tiers
Controlled principally by the centre (approx.
60% expenditure)
 BS1033 Local Government Continuity and Change
1. 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;
 BS1033 Local Government Continuity and Change
1. 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.
 BS1033 Local Government Continuity and Change
1. 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
 BS1033 Local Government Continuity and Change
1. 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. Southampton=unitary, HCC+Winchester
City Council=two tier
 BS1033 Local Government Continuity and Change
1. 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
 BS1033 Local Government Continuity and Change
1. Local Government Structure and Functions

Now we have Modernising Local Government with

emphasis on:
Best Value
Partnerships
e-government
Accessible services
 BS1033 Local Government Continuity and Change
1. 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)
 BS1033 Local Government Continuity and Change
1. Local Government Structure and Functions

Comprehensive Performance Assessment started

in February 2001

http://society.guardian.co.uk/bestvalue/story/0,8150,649054,00.html