English local government
[...]is the search for the right size - inevitably bigger - a policy obsession of successive British governments. Yet, around 50 years of international independent academic research has shown that these outcomes are not a guaranteed or consistent result of local government size increases.1 A more co...
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| Published in: | Municipal World 2021-12, Vol.131 (12), p.17-48 |
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| Main Authors: | , |
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | eng |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | [...]is the search for the right size - inevitably bigger - a policy obsession of successive British governments. Yet, around 50 years of international independent academic research has shown that these outcomes are not a guaranteed or consistent result of local government size increases.1 A more consistent research finding is that increases in population or geographical size of councils has a damaging effect on the health of local democracy, such as, public participation, electoral turnout, community cohesion, and overall satisfaction. Since the late 1990s, council mergers do not require full parliamentary process but simply the approval of the Secretary of State for Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. History behind Larger Councils So, if the evidence suggests that size is not a consistent and conclusive determinant of effectiveness, efficiency, and cost reduction, and - where they have been asked - the public have preferred smaller local government, why does the centre maintain its policy of increasing council size? |
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| ISSN: | 0027-3589 |