Abstract
The administration of a wide range of local government services requires a similar kind of leadership to other public authorities. All public bodies, particularly to those with delivery functions, have to respond to policy changes introduced by Whitehall and in the European Union. They need to manage a complex environment, with many stakeholders and pressures on public services. But local authorities are different: they are led by elected politicians who draw their mandates from citizens living in their jurisdictions. The elected element creates a particular kind of leadership because a key pressure for policy change is directed by citizen voice and also by political parties with focused platforms. Most of all the leaders of local authorities are politicians rather than bureaucrats. They have an eye to the wider public and to managing political conflicts. Their careers do not depend on rising up the bureaucracy or transferring from place to place, but in making a difference locally, maintaining their reputations and keeping their rivals in their place.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Atkinson, H. and Wilks-Heeg, S. (2000) Local Government from Thatcher to Blair: The Politics of Creative Autonomy. Oxford: Blackwell.
Cole, A. and John, P. (2001) Local Governance in England and France. London: Routledge.
Commission for Local Democracy (1995) Taking Charge: The Rebirth of Local Democracy. London: Municipal Journal Books.
DETR (1998) Modern Local Government in Touch with the People. London: The Stationary Office.
Dicey, A.V. (1959) An Introduction to the Study of the Law of the Constitution. Basingstoke: Macmillan.
ELG (Evaluating Local Governance) (2002) Report of ELG Survey Findings for ODPM Advisory Group, 28 November 2002 by Gerry Stoker, Peter John, Francesca Gains, Nirmala Rao and Alan Harding, see http://www.ipeg.org.uk/research/elgnce/ publications.php
ELG (2003) Implementing the 2000 Act With Respect to New Council Constitutions and Ethical Framework: First Report. London: ODPM. http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/ research/new.htm
Gains, F., Greasley, S., John, P. and Stoker, G. (2009) ‘The Impact of Political Leadership on Organizational Performance: Evidence from English Urban Government’, Local Government Studies, 35: 75–94.
Gyford, J. (1985) The Politics of Local Socialism. London: George Allen and Unwin.
Gyford, J., Leach, S. and Game, C. (1989) The Changing Politics ofLocal Government. London: Unw in Hyman.
John, P. (2001) Local Governance in Western Europe. London: Sage.
John, P. and Borraz, O. (2004) ‘The Emergence of a European Urban Leadership?’, International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, forthcoming.
John, P. and Saiz, M. (1999), ‘Local Political Parties in Comparative Perspective’, in Saiz, M. and Geser, H. (eds), Local Parties in Political and Organisational Perspective. Boulder: Westview Press.
Leach, S. and Wilson, D. (2000) Local Political Leadership. Bristol: Policy Press.
Madison, J. et al. (1987) The Federalist Papers. London: Penguin.
Neustadt, R. (1960) Presidential Power: The Politics of Leadership. New York: Wiley.
Norton, A. (1978)‘The Evidence Considered’, in Jones, G.W. (ed.), Political Leadership in Local Authorities. Birmingham: Institute of Local Government Studies.
Pimlott, B. and Rao, N. (2002) Governing London. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Pratchett, L. and Wilson, D. (1996) (eds) Local Democracy and Local Government. London: Macmillan.
Stoker, G. and Wolman, H. (1992) ‘Drawing Lessons from US Experience: An Elected Mayor for British Local Government’, Public Administration, 70: 241–267.
Stoker, G., Gains, F., Greasley, S., John, P. and Rao, N. (2004) Operating the New Council Constitutions in English Local Authorities: A Process Evaluation. London: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
Stoker, G., Gains, F., Greasley, S., John, P. and Rao, N. (2006) Councillors, Officers and Stakeholders in the New Council Constitutions: Findings from the ELG 2005 Sample Survey. London: Department for Communities and Local Government.
Travers, T. (2003) The Politics ofLondon. Basingstoke: Macmillan.
Young, K. (1994) Local Leadership and Decision-Making in London for LGC. Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2010 Peter John
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
John, P. (2010). Local Government Reform and Political Leadership. In: Brookes, S., Grint, K. (eds) The New Public Leadership Challenge. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230277953_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230277953_6
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-30912-2
Online ISBN: 978-0-230-27795-3
eBook Packages: Palgrave Business & Management CollectionBusiness and Management (R0)