Central-Local Government Relations

Abstract

This chapter explores the complex area of intergovernmental or central-local relations. It begins by providing an overview of the formal framework within which interactions take place and some of the instruments of central control available to Ministers individually and collectively. Formal frameworks must, however, always be studied alongside actual working relationships — hence the dynamics of central-local relations come under scrutiny next. The third part of the chapter highlights the important role of the newly expanded Department of the Environment Transport and the Regions (DoETR) and the recently created Integrated Regional Offices (IROs). Attention then focuses upon a major House of Lords report on central-local relations published in 1996. Finally a number of theoretical perspectives are considered.