Skip to main content

Finding a Focus for Local Political Leadership: Performance, Party, Public or Partners?

  • Chapter
Public Governance and Leadership

Abstract

This chapter will examine how the pressure to encourage efficiency and improve performance in local government is altering the traditional focus and activities of local political leaders. Initially it will examine the pressures for management and governance reform at the local level across local government in Europe before setting out a framework for understanding the role of local political leaders. This suggests that political leaders at the local level have to balance a variety of tasks both internally and externally focussed in order to create and manage coalitions of support for their leadership at the same time as ensuring the strategic development and delivery of services.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Borraz, O./ John, P. (2004), The transformation of Urban Political Leadership in Western Europe, in: International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Vol. 28, No. 1, pp. 107–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Denters, B./ Rose, L. (2005), Comparing Local Governance: Trends and Developments, Basingstoke: Palgrave

    Google Scholar 

  • DETR (1998), Modern Local Government: In touch with the People, London: Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

    Google Scholar 

  • DETR (1999), Local Leadership, Local Choice Cm 4298, London: Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

    Google Scholar 

  • Gains, F. (2004), The Local Bureaucrat: A Block to Reform or the Key to Unlocking Change, in: Stoker, G./ Wilson, D. (eds.), Local Government in the 21st Century, Basingstoke: Macmillian

    Google Scholar 

  • Gains, F. (2005), The Implementation of New Council Constitutions in Hung Authorities, ODPM, Internet document: http://www.elgnce.org.uk

  • Gains, F. (2006a), Modernising English Local Government: Voice, Loyalty and Exit in the Demise of the Committee System, in: Lantink, A./ Lettinga, B./ Resodihardjo, S. (eds.), Reform in Europe: Breaking the Barriers in Government, Surrey: Ashgate, pp. 118–145

    Google Scholar 

  • Gains, F. (2006b), New Council Constitutions Early Outcomes and Impacts: Qualitative Data, London: DCLG, Internet document: http://www.elgnce.org.uk

    Google Scholar 

  • Gains, F. (2006c), New Council Constitutions: A Summary of the ELG Research Findings, London: DCLG, Internet document: http://www.elgnce.org.uk

    Google Scholar 

  • Greasley, S./ Stoker, G. (2005), Institutionalising Leadership? The Experience of England’s Elected Mayors, Paper given at the Political Studies Association Leeds

    Google Scholar 

  • Haus, M./ Sweeting, D. (2006), Local Democracy and Political Leadership: Redrawing a Map, in: Political Studies, Vol. 54, pp. 267–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • John, P. (2000), The Europeanisation of Sub-national Governance, in: Urban Studies, Vol. 5, No. 6, pp. 877–894

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • John, P. (2001), Local Governance in Western Europe, London: Sage

    Google Scholar 

  • John, P./ Gains, F. (2005), Leadership under the New Council Constitutions, ODPM, Internet document: http://www.elgnce.org.uk

  • John, P./ Gains, F. (2006), Leadership in Local Government: A Review of the Key Issues, Edinburgh: Scottish Executive

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, R. (2006), Speech to LGA Conference, 5 July 2006, London: DCLG, Internet document: http://www.communities.gov.uk/

    Google Scholar 

  • Leach, S./ Hartley, J./ Lowndes, V./ Wilson, D./ Downe, J. (2005), Local Political Leadership in England and Wales, York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation

    Google Scholar 

  • Leach, S./ Wilson, D. (2002), Rethinking Local Political Leadership, in: Public Administration, Vol. 80, No. 4, pp. 665–689

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lowndes, V./ Leach, S. (2004), Understanding Local Political Leadership: Constitutions, Contexts and Capabilities, in: Local Government Studies, Vol. 30, No. 4, pp. 557–575

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ODPM (2002), New Council Constitutions Guidance, ODPM, Internet document: http://www.communities.gov.uk/

  • Pimlott, B./ Rao, N. (2002), Governing London, Oxford: Oxford University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Pratchett, L./ Krimmer, R. (2005), The Coming of E-Democracy, in: International Journal of Electronic Government Research, Vol. 1, No. 3, pp.1–3

    Google Scholar 

  • Randle, A. (2004), Mayors Mid Term: Lessons from the Eighteen Months of Directly Elected Mayors, London: New Local Government Network

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhodes, R. A. W. (1997), Understanding Governance, Buckingham: Open University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoker, G. (2003), Transforming Local Governance, Basingstoke: Palgrave

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoker, G. (2004), How are Mayors Measuring Up?, ODPM, Internet document: http://www.elgnce.org.uk

  • Stoker, G./ Gains, F./ John, P./ Rao, N./ Harding, A. (2003), Implementing the New Council Constitutions, ODPM, Internet document: http://www.elgnce.org.uk

  • Stoker, G./ Gains, F./ Greasley, S./ John, P./ Rao, N. (2004), Operating the New Council Constitutions: A Process Evaluation, ODPM, Internet document: http://www.elgnce.org.uk

  • Stoker, G./ Gains, F./ Greasley, S./ John, P./ Rao, N. (2006), New Council Constitutions: Report of the Sample Survey 2005, ODPM, Internet document: http://www.elgnce.org.uk

  • Wilson, D./ Game, C. (2002), Local Government in the United Kingdom, Basingstoke: Palgrave

    Google Scholar 

  • Wollmann, H. (2004), Urban Leadership in German Local Politics: The Rise, Role and Performance of the Directly Elected (Chief Executive) Mayor, in: International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Vol. 28, No. 1, pp 150–165

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2007 Deutscher Universitäts-Verlag | GWV Fachverlage GmbH, Wiesbaden

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Gains, F. (2007). Finding a Focus for Local Political Leadership: Performance, Party, Public or Partners?. In: Koch, R., Dixon, J. (eds) Public Governance and Leadership. DUV. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-8350-9100-9_14

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics