The National Local Government System

Abstract

This chapter moves beyond the traditional and rather narrow focus of Whitehall-English local authority relations to convey something of the extent and diversity of the ‘national local government system’ in the UK. What will emerge is a picture of numerous policy networks constituting a governmental system which is both complex and fragmented. This chapter focuses on five of the most important elements comprising and impinging upon the national local government system:

• 1 Territorial Relationships — the distinctive patterns of central-local relations which operate in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

• 2 The Local Authority Associations — the ‘national community of local government’ e.g. Association of Metropolitan Authorities (AMA) and Association of District Councils (ADC).

• 3 The Impact of Professionalism — professionalised networks in specific areas (e.g. housing, planning) can play a major role in pushing forward specific policy options which are then frequently applied throughout UK local authorities.

• 4 Non-elected Bodies — the plethora of nominated boards, central government arm’s-length agencies, public-private partnership organisations now operating at local level with their own policy networks.

• 5 The European Dimension — a growing number of local authorities are engaging with the EC, both directly and via bodies such as the Local Government International Bureau. Additionally, EC legislation and policies directly impact on the activities of individual local authorities.