Towards Local Governance: rhetoric and reality

Abstract

Elected local government is now but one part of a complex mosaic of organisations concerned with community governance. Local authorities 'share the turf' with a wide range of agencies (eg. health authorities, police authorities, Primary Care Groups, TECs, the employment service, action zones, partnerships), none of which is directly elected. In the same way that this journal has changed dramatically over the last ten years under Barry O'Toole's editorial regime so has the world of local government. This article charts the advent of local governance and examines some of the accompanying tensions. Has the development of a system of governance given rise to a 'democratic deficit' ? Has greater public participation resulted in more democracy? What challenges are posed by the emergence of directly elected mayors and cabinets at local level? Does the advent of greater audit and inspection powers by central government further threaten local democracy? Partnerships with both the private and with voluntary sectors are here to stay. In this context a major challenge for elected local government is to further enhance its leadership role in shaping the social, political and economic development of local communities.