Monitoring or intervention: how the government responds to financial, service and corporate failings in local authorities

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Murphy, P. ORCID: 0000-0001-8459-4448, 2023. Monitoring or intervention: how the government responds to financial, service and corporate failings in local authorities. In: International Centre of Public Accountability (ICOPA) International Conference, Durham University, 11-12 December 2023.

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Abstract

This presentation looked at the various forms of central government monitoring and intervention in local authorities in England and the antecedents to the Birmingham City Council case. The research drew upon government legislation, ministerial statements, parliamentary committee, audit, inspection, and other publicly available reports to identify the key issues and the changing nature of government monitoring and intervention in local authorities.

It looked at the historical development of monitoring and intervention and will focus on the last twenty years since the Best Value regime and the current intervention powers were introduced. It described the various forms of monitoring and interventions in terms of the relationship established between the government and the local authority and the nature and scope of the issues involved.

Interventions have been focussed on service, corporate, or financial inadequacies or a combination of all three, although the latest ‘wave’ of interventions have primarily been financially based following the issuing of one or more Section 114 notices and have overwhelmingly focused on financial distress. The presentation compares the current wave with an earlier wave between 2003 and 2008 and argues that the current levels of financial distress are unsustainable, and the consequences of the current approach unacceptable. It called for comprehensive and systemic changes in local government finance arrangements and the nature and form of central government engagement with local authorities.

Item Type:

Conference contribution

Description:

Keynote

Creators:

Murphy, P.

Date:

December 2023

Identifiers: