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Local government in the UK is in crisis. It is now neither local in terms of the geography and populations of its principle units, nor does it truly govern in these areas. As this book reveals, over the previous 200 years local government has moved from a system in which local interests held governance over localities to one in which central government and national and multi-national agencies such as corporate businesses hold governance over local and community decision-making. These changes seriously undermine the important role that local government can play in liberal democracy in the UK. The book explains the nature of local government today and asks if there is any possibility of change.
Preface
Introduction
1 The evolution of the twentieth-century system
2 Theorising local government in Britain
3 Changing the boundaries
4 Can local governments govern? Powers and resources
5 Restructuring democracy within local authorities
6 Central control and local autonomy
7 How have local authorities coped with change?
8 Local government as expedient agencies of central government
9 Is there any possibility of change?
Conclusions and reflections
Index