Centralisation, devolution and the future of local government in England / Steve Leach, John Stewart and George Jones.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Leach, Steve, 1942- author.

Stewart, John David, 1929- author.

Jones, G. W. (George William), author.

Series:

Routledge studies in British politics ; 1.

Routledge studies in British politics ; 1

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Local government--England.

Local government.

Decentralization in government.

Central-local government relations.

England.

Central-local government relations--England.

Decentralization in government--England.

Physical Description:

xii, 179 pages ; 23 cm.

Other Title:

Centralization, devolution and the future of local government in England

Place of Publication:

Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2018.

Summary:

English local government is in a state of decline after 40 years of incremental but cumulative centralisation by central government. This book is the first to directly address this trend's impact upon the institution of local government, a crucial element in the democratic viability of a unitary state. The process of centralisation, and its corrosive effect on the status and responsibilities of local government, have been widely recognised and deplored among politicians and senior officers within local government, and by academics with an interest in this field. However, there has been no study exploring in detail its impact, and, equally important, suggesting ways in which the growing imbalance between the powers of central and local government should be rectified. This book fills this gap. This text will be of key interest to scholars, students and practitioners of local government, and more generally to those interested in what has been happening to British politics and governance. Book jacket.

Contents:

Introduction : the plight of local government and central-local relations

The justification for local government

How the past can inform the present : five stages in the development of local government

The myth of localism

Central-local relations : an interpretation

The need for constitutional change

Rethinking local government finance

Politics, parties and local democracy

Central-local relations and local government reorganisation

The devolution agenda

Reflections and conclusions.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781138222373

1138222372

9781138222380

1138222380

OCLC:

978889562