17 2 Government Summary Government is rule-bound: the conventions of sovereignty and the rule of law bind the government itself. These conventions make it possible to preserve central authority while delegating practical services. Government is commonly understood in terms of legislative, executive and judicial functions. There are overlaps between these elements, but beyond that there are further roles in governance and accountability, and the government acts as a policy-maker and provider in service delivery. Historically, contemporary governments asserted
135 7 Government Responsibility Governments blame citizens for their own policies. The modern ideology of individualism and personal responsibility adopted by governments has allowed them to push the idea that their citizens must take responsibility for their own lives and be responsible for their own decisions, and therefore for the consequences of those decisions. That means they can be blamed for ill health, their accommodation and other aspects of their lives. Governments do acknowledge certain limits to that claim. They accept that some health
169© The Policy Press · 2008 · ISSN 0962 7898 Benefits • vol 16 • no 2 • 2008 • 169-84 po lic y re vie w Policy Review includes reports and commentaries on policy initiatives and developments, at both national and local level, in the broad areas of poverty and social exclusion with contributions in particular from community organisations, pressure groups, think tanks, as well as academic institutes and government departments. Fran Bennett, Department of Social Policy and Social Work, University of Oxford, fran.bennett@socres.ox.ac.uk Barbara Waine
Policy and Politics vol 24 no I Stewurt: Innovation in democrotic proctice in locol govemment INNOVATION IN DEMOCRATIC PRACTICE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT John Stewart In recent years there have been significant changes in the management processes of local government, but no equivalent developments in its democratic processes. The need for innovation in democratic practice is, however, as great, as local government strives to retain its position as a major planner and provider of public services locally. This article considers a range of innovative democratic practices
95 4 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE This chapter looks at the financial provisions of the Localism Act and subsequent legislation relating to local government finance; focuses on recent and future trends in public and private sector employment; analyses trends in UK public expenditure; discusses local government finance in the UK; shows that some councils, which have been cut harder than the rest of the public sector, are already becoming financially unviable; and concludes that the council tax, stamp duty land tax and business rates should be abolished and
Policy and Politics vol 25 no 2 THE REFORMED SYSTEM OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE IN SCOTLAND Arthur Midwinter and Neil McGarvey This article examines the principles behind recent reforms in local government finance in Scottish local government. It is argued that whilst the local tax reform has been implemented relatively smoothly, the other reforms which accompanied it have been more problematic. In particular the switch from selective to universal capping has resulted in the unintended consequence of previous 'underspenders' spending much closer to their
Governments have developed a convenient habit of blaming social problems on their citizens, placing too much emphasis on personal responsibility and pursuing policies to ‘nudge’ their citizens to better behaviour.
Keith Dowding shows that, in fact, responsibility for many of our biggest social crises – including homelessness, gun crime, obesity, drug addiction and problem gambling – should be laid at the feet of politicians.
He calls for us to stop scapegoating fellow citizens and to demand more from our governments, who have the real power and responsibility to alleviate social problems and bring about lasting change.
Drawing on classical and emerging research perspectives, this comprehensive book provides an up-to-date review of local government in Europe.
Featuring an impressive range of contributors from both eastern and western Europe, the book addresses three main topics: territorial reforms, democratic empowerment of citizens and the role of local leadership, as well as new trends in local finances.
Acknowledging their inherent diversity, the book examines the ways that local governments have responded to shared challenges, such as climate change, increasing populism and democratic deficit in order to identify both the variety and communalities between the country-specific features. In doing so, it provides a rich picture of the latest trends in local government, as well as pointing the way for future developments.
The Comparative Study of Local Government Organisation: 1972-6 Royston Greenwood Lecturer in Local Government Studies, University of Birmingham C. R. Hinings Senior Lecturer in Sociology, University of Aston Unless the intentions of the Conservative government are thwarted, existing local authorities in England and Wales, other than those in London, will be replaced in April 1974. The election of local councils will have taken place twelve months earlier. One would expect such a major change to lead to changes in organisational practices and the development of
