The Labour Government's Local Government Agenda 1997–2009: The Impact on Member–Officer Relationships

Abstract

In looking back over the Labour government's agenda for local government (1997–2009) six key themes can be identified: the move to local executive government; the emphasis on strong individual local leadership; the cumulative enhancement of the focus on partnership working; the strengthening of the performance/inspection culture; a concern with public engagement and community cohesion (particularly at neighbourhood level); and a further move towards a unitary structure of local government in England. Although the first raft of measures did have a degree of coherence, over time the coherence of the government's vision disintegrated. The overall effect of this pattern of central initiative and intervention on member–officer relations, is examined. It is argued that whereas the impact of the enhancement of the performance/inspection culture has been to strengthen the position of chief executives (vis-à-vis council leaders) the move to local executive government has not resulted in the shift of power from leading officers to leading members that might have been anticipated. In addition the challenge to the unified officer structure implicit in the division between the executive and scrutiny roles has remained latent.