Scottish Local Government / / Allan McConnell.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter Edinburgh University Press Backlist eBook-Package 2013-2000
• VerfasserIn: McConnell, Allan,
• Place / Publishing House: Edinburgh : : Edinburgh University Press, , [2022]; ©2004
• Year of Publication: 2022
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (288 p.)

GBS_insertPreviewButtonPopup('ISBN:9780748620050);This book fills an important gap in our understanding of Scottish local government in the dynamic new context of the Scottish Parliament. It provides academics, students, practitioners, journalists and others with a broad-ranging yet detailed account, not just of how local government actually works, but also the main political issues and debates surrounding its multi-faceted roles in contemporary Scotland.It covers issues such asThe nature and purpose of Scottish local governmentThe strengths and weaknesses of unitary authoritiesModernisation of political management arrangementsRoles and remuneration for councillorsElectoral reform and new methods for encouraging citizen participationThe growth of non-elected local governanceBest Value and the rise of the performance cultureThe politics of council finance: including business rates, Council Tax and PFIThe wider context of central-local relations, multi-level governance and globalizationThe book contains a wealth of facts, figures, tables and diagrams. The accompanying analysis draws, in a supportive way, on literature from the traditions of public policy, public administration and political science. The end result is an original, modern, accessible analysis of Scottish local government in the context of devolution. A particular focus throughout is assessing the 'distinctiveness' of Scottish local government compared to the rest of the UK, and addressing the question - to what extent has devolution made a difference to Scottish local government?Key FeaturesOnly modern work of its kind - fills a gap in our understanding of local government in ScotlandAccessible - offers the facts of how Scottish local government works, combined with incisive political analysisPlaces Scottish local government in the context of the Scottish Parliament, Westminster, the EU and an increasingly globalised world"

Table of Contents

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Expanded Contents List -- Figures and Tables -- Abbreviations -- Preface and Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- 1. Thinking Politically: The Nature of Local Government in Scotland -- 2. Mapping the Networks and Relationships of Scottish Local Authorities -- 3. Scottish Local Authority Structures: From Feudal Burghs to Single Tier Authorities -- 4. Council Decision-Making Structures: From Traditional Administration to Post-Devolution Modernisation -- 5. Councillors, Elections and the Electoral System: A Healthy Democratic Foundation? -- 6. Beyond Elections: Non-Electoral Forms of Public Participation and Non-Elected Local Governance -- 7. Political Parties in Scottish Local Government -- 8. Reconstructing Accountability: Value for Money and the Rise of the Performance Culture in Scottish Councils -- 9. Financing Scottish Local Government -- 10. The Bigger Picture: Central-Local Relations, Multi- Level Governance and Globalisation -- Conclusion: Has Devolution Made a Difference to Local Government in Scotland? -- Bibliography -- Index