Roundtable note: central Government intervention
In June 2018 CfGS convened a roundtable to discuss central Government intervention in local government.
The Government has power to appoint Commissioners to run councils where there is evidence that those councils are not delivering “best value”. Government can also intervene more informally – as with the appointment of an “independent improvement panel” in Birmingham. And there are many “sector-led” mechanisms to review and improve councils’ operations – like the LGA corporate peer challenge.
Participants at our roundtable considered the various issues involved in intervention, and their implications for local governance, accountability and transparency. The note provides a summary of this discussion.
This work is part of a long-term research project we are currently (July 2018) planning on this subject.
About the Author: Ed Hammond
Ed leads CfGS's work on devolution, transformation and on support to councils and other public bodies on governance and accountability.
