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BS3004 Public Service Delivery
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The Quango problem. Lack of direct accountability to the public ... Should the work of Quango's be brought under grater democratic control ? If so, how ? ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation
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Title: BS3004 Public Service Delivery
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BS3004 Public Service Delivery
- 2 - Local Government and QUANGOS
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Local government
- International variations in its role
- at one extreme
- local administration of national law and policy
- at the other extreme
- federal structure with high degree of regional
autonomy
3
Local Democracy
- Local government headed by elected council
members - The majority party forms the administration (the
government of the authority) may involve a
coalition between parties - The local government officers (the managers and
staff responsible to the elected councillors - Small number of Independent councillors
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UK Local Government its role
- In the middle of the continuum
- Strong tradition of reasonable extent of local
autonomy, and limited local law making bye
laws - But
- Growing level of centralisation by national
government linked to - - concern over UK economic performance
- - establishing uniform standards of
- performance
- - seeking to ensure public money is well spent
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Local Government Service Provision
- Personal education, social
service, housing
- Environmental local roads, transport,
planning, refuse. - Recreation parks, sports facility,
libraries - theatres, art galleries
- Economic encourage business, promote
tourism. - Protective police, fire, consumer
protection, - health and safety
- But Role changing from direct provision to
enabling via Best Value - and Public Private Partnership
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Financing Local Government
- Grant of money from central government
- Community Charge on households
- Business Rate
- Income from charges for services
- Should National Government control local raising
of finance and its expenditure?
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The Central or Local debate
- How much should local communities organise and
run their own affairs in response to local needs
? - How much should central government create
national standards and develop uniformity of what
people may expect ?
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Local Government Structure
- 34 counties and 238 district councils with
division of responsibility between them - County e.g. education, social services,
planning, roads, fire, police - District - e.g. housing, leisure, refuse,
consumer protection - 46 unitary authorities in urban areas
- Have we too many layers of government?
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Quangos Quasi Autonomous Non Government
Organisations
- Also known as
- Non departmental organisations
- Quasi-Governmental organisations
- Extra-Governmental Agencies
- Quite Unacceptable and Nasty Government
Offshoots ! (Daily Telegraph) - - Organisations carrying out a public function
with significant freedom from democratic control
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Quangos
- Established by government
- Usually funded by the public purse
- Managed by Boards appointed by government
- Who sit on these Boards? - Those with relevant
expertise and experience? - Examples??
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The Quango problem
- Lack of direct accountability to the public
- The amount of money they use one third of
central government expenditure - Do the Boards represent the community?
- Appointments as favours those who provide
donations to the governing party - Move to reform appointments by creating a
Commissioner of Public Appointments
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Discussion Topics
- Does the UK suffer from too much government, or
not enough ? - Should the work of Quangos be brought under
grater democratic control ? If so, how ?
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Devolution of Central Power- Scotland and Wales
- 1
- Reason for devolution growth of Scots and Welsh
nationalism - Scottish Parliament created in 1998. A parliament
of 129 members with right to vary basic UK income
tax by 3p - Also assumes powers previously exercised by the
Scottish Office of Government
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Devolution of Central Power- Scotland and Wales
- 2
- Welsh Assembly created in 1998
- 60 elected members
- Very limited powers those of the Welsh Office
approx 7million budget - No money raising powers
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Devolution Issues
- Is the current level of devolution likely to lead
to demands for greater power to be given to the
Scots Parliament and the Welsh Assembly? - Should Scots MPs be allowed to debate and vote
on matters that are English, when English MPs
cannot debate matters that are purely Scottish? - Should there be English regional assemblies?
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