Local Government Reorganisation The Review and its Aftermath

The Local Government Review has not been a rewarding experience for the majority of authorities who were drawn into it. Although those authorities which have achieved unitary status are generally positive about the outcome, elsewhere the Review has generated frustration, loss of morate and a sense of injustice.
The Review raises issues of political process and provides a test-bed for a range of decision-making theories. The interest to practitioners, in addition to the insights provided by academic analysis, lies in the highlighting of the lessons to be learned. This volume attempts to respond to both these perspectives.

The Local Government Review raised issues of political process and decision-making theories. The interest lies in the insights provided by academic analysis, and the highlighting of the lessons to be learned. This volume attempts to respond to both these perspectives.

Chapter 1 Introduction: The Continuing Relevance of the Local Government Review, Steve Leach; Chapter 2 Reviewing the Review, Howard Davis; Chapter 3 The Local Government Review: A ‘Policy Process’ Perspective, Steve Leach; Chapter 4 The New Public Management and the Local Government Review, Robert Leach, Neil Barnett; Chapter 5 Public Choice Theory and Local Government Structure: An Evaluation of Reorganisation in Scotland and Wales, George A. Boyne; Chapter 6 Local Government Reform in Scotland: Managing the Transition, Arthur Midwinter, Neil McGarvey; Chapter 7 The Local Government Review – An Inept Process, John Sinnott; Chapter 8 LGR: A Bizarre Can of Worms, Tim Mobbs; Chapter 9 Local Government Reform in the US – And Why it Differs so Greatly from Britain, Donald F. Norris;

Steve Leach