Edited by Jim Robertson
Published 2005 (ISBN: 1 902488 83 0) Price £9.95
Although the concept of localism has risen up the policy agenda, with all political parties arguing the case for greater local involvement in key policy issues such as public service reform, a number of important questions remain about the key elements, processes and potential benefits of localism. What does localism mean in practice? How can greater local involvement help to drive improvements in public services? What is best practice? In trying to meet national and local priorities, what should the role of local authorities be? This collection of essays and case studies seeks to answer some of these questions; to clarify what the different understandings of Localism are; and to suggest practical ways forward that reconcile as many of them as possible.