Leading Edge
Interest in better delivery of local public services has never been greater. Theorists, academics, politicians, lobbyists, government officials, expectant mothers, ageing grandmothers, unemployed, long-term sick, asylum seekers… the list goes on and the associated pressures facing local government leaders continue to rise. Globalisation, climate change, labour migration, ageing population are just some of the 'new' environmental drivers that are stamping on local ground. Yet, local government continues to lead the way in improving performance.
This report sets out to uncover what some of the leading authorities in this country attribute their 'success' to. How do these leaders overcome organisational inertia, ever-tightening budgetary resources, community apathy and isolation, neighbourhood fear of crime, worklessness and deprivation, centralist unilateral mandates, to become the 4 star authorities that annually continue to "improve strongly"?