Steve Leach
Biographic Data
| ID | 3780445 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Steve Leach |
| GIVEN NAMES | Steve |
| FAMILY NAME | Leach |
| SIGNATURE | LEACH S |
| AFFILIATIONS | De Montfort University |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-2129-3175 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 50 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 229 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 50 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1979 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2018 |
| H-INDEX | 8 |
Assessment of the Public Health Threats Posed by Vector-Borne Disease in the United Kingdom (UK)
In recent years, the known distribution of vector-borne diseases in Europe has changed, with much new information also available now on the status of vectors in the United Kingdom (UK). For example, in 2016, the UK reported their first detection of the non-native mosquito Aedes albopictus , which is a known vector for dengue and chikungunya virus. In 2010, Culex modestus , a principal mosquito vector for West Nile virus was detected in large numb…
Peter Somerville, Understanding community; politics, policy and practice (second edition)
On the face of it, Peter Somerville’s revised and updated version of a textbook first published in 2011 has much to recommend it. It deploys an ambitious theoretical framework, in seeking to provid
Local Government Reorganisation: The Review and Its Aftermath
Dishonest Government: Local Government Reorganisation, England 2006–2010
When I use a word’, Humpty-Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less.’ (Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass.) Abstract The local government reorganisation process introduced by the Labour government in England in the 2006–2010 period is characterised by a range of disturbing characteristics, in particular the misuse of the English language, the disjunctive between rhetoric and rea…
The Labour Government's Local Government Agenda 1997–2009: The Impact on Member–Officer Relationships
In looking back over the Labour government's agenda for local government (1997–2009) six key themes can be identified: the move to local executive government; the emphasis on strong individual local leadership; the cumulative enhancement of the focus on partnership working; the strengthening of the performance/inspection culture; a concern with public engagement and community cohesion (particularly at neighbourhood level); and a further move towa…
The Audit Commission's View of Politics: A Critical Evaluation of the CPA Process
The Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) process introduced in the wake of the Local Government Act 2000 was in essence a managerial tool applied to a political environment. An analysis of the Commission's first tranche of CPA reports reveals a particular perspective on the role of politics and parties in local authorities which raises issues about the Commission's competence and legitimacy to make such judgements. Composite pictures of the…
Reorganisation, Reorganisation, Reorganisation: A Critical Analysis of the Sequence of Local Government Reorganisation Initiatives, 1979–2008
There has been a lack of clarity about the principles and desirable outcomes behind the ad hoc reorganisations of local government since 1979 and the gradual journey towards creating unitary councils in England. Yet those reorganisations and the unitary councils that were created as a result have developed form a shared belief between governments, of different political complexion, that unitary local government is preferable to a two-tier or mult…
Diluting the Role of Party Groups? Implications of the 2006 Local Government White Paper
This paper argues that the proposals for strengthening local political leadership outlined in the 2006 British government White Paper ‘Strong and Prosperous Communities’ are based on an unconvincing, methodologically flawed analysis of the benefits of strong individual leadership. The extent to which the continued dominance of the party group is inimical to the exercise of executive political leadership is analysed and a number of scenarios that …
Of Roles and Rules: Analysing the Changing Relationship between Political Leaders and Chief Executives in Local Government
In Britain the formal institutional framework within which local leadership takes place has been transformed since 1997 — through new arrangements for executive decision-making and the introduction of `comprehensive performance assessment'. The article looks at how such changes have affected the relationship between political and managerial leaders in local government. Drawing on primary research, the article examines the interaction between the …
The changing role of local politics in Britain
This book is the first thorough analysis of the role of local politics in local government to be published since Gyford, Leach and Game (1989). It draws on a range of funded research projects carried out by the author between 1995 and 2005 including ‘New patterns of local politics’ (ESRC 1996), member-officer relations (LGIU 1999), new constitutions (DETR 2002), overview and scrutiny (ODPM 2003) and political leadership (Joseph Rowntree foundatio…
The changing role of local politics in Britain
Local Government: A New Vision, Rhetoric or Reality
Journal Article Local Government: A New Vision, Rhetoric or Reality? Get access Steve Leach, Steve Leach Professor of Local Government in the Local Governance Research Unit, Leicester Business School, De Montfort University, Leicester Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Lawrence Pratchett Lawrence Pratchett Reader in Local Democracy and Director of the Local Government Research Unit, Leicester Business School,…
Scrutiny and the Political Party Group in UK Local Government: New Models of Behaviour
The introduction, via the Local Government Act 2000, of political executives held to account by influential overview and scrutiny committees challenges fundamentally the traditional operations of the party group system. This paper uses evidence from a variety of sources (including the experience of Parliamentary select committees) to explore how councillors are managing the tensions between party group loyalty and the expectation surrounding the …
Transforming Local Governance: From Thatcherism to New Labour
Understanding Local Political Leadership: Constitutions, Contexts and Capabilities
Despite Labour's clear vision of a new form of local political leadership, the impact of the Local Government Act 2000 has been limited - but at the same time diverse. Local authorities have overwhelmingly selected the 'least change' option, but have elaborated the new models in a variety of ways. Drawing on case study data and a new institutionalist framework, the article looks beyond formal structures at the emerging practice of local political…
Urban Elites in England: New Models of Executive Governance
Political leadership has become a much more explicit and widespread feature of English urban governance than it was 20 years ago. It has become particularly high profile since the Labour Government came into power in 1997 and sponsored legislation (Local Government Act 2000) which required all English local authorities to replace or modify the existing committee system of decision-making by adopting one of four prescribed options, the thrust of w…
Local Government: Selectivity and Diversity
The themes of selectivity and diversity are used to provide a structured interpretation of four key central government initiated projects currently affecting local government in one way or another. First, the progress of the local executive government agenda is considered. Second, the related issue of the government's enthusiasm for e‐government and e‐democracy is explored. Third, the development of Comprehensive Performance Assessments is evalua…
Executives and Scrutiny in Local Government: An Evaluation of Progress
New ‘executive’ political management structures (elected mayors, cabinets and leader etc) have been operating since May 2001 throughout England. This paper attempts a preliminary assessment of the experience and impact of these new structures, including the extent to which they are meeting the government's objectives. Interim conclusions include the perception that the new executives have speeded up the process of decision-making, but that overvi…
Rethinking local political leadership
The changing nature of local political leadership in Britain over the past 25 years has received scant attention from political scientists. This article argues that changes in the roles and functions of local authorities have had a marked impact on the nature of local political leadership. Three phases (operational, transitional and collaborative) are identified and leadership roles are related to changes in the political context of local governm…
Strategic Planning in Local Government: A Study of Organisational Impact and Effectiveness
Strategic planning in British local government has enjoyed a renaissance over the past ten years, but little attention has been paid to the effectiveness of strategies at the local level. Strategic effectiveness can be assessed in terms of the success of the strategy in attracting resources (current and/or capital), its influence on existing programmes and as a vehicle for wider cultural change. This article interprets evidence from a case study …
Elected Mayors in England: A Contribution to the Debate
This article discusses the arguments for and against the introduction of elected mayors in England, as encouraged in the Local Government Act 2000. It analyses how the government’. mayoral proposals have been diluted in such a way that ‘strong mayors’ parallels from the USA are now less relevant. It examines the evolution effectiveness and extent of the current use of the mayoral office in the USA, and draws out the implications of this evidence …
Managing the Budgetary Process in a Hung Council
This paper examines the impact of a change in 1994 from majority control to no overall control on the operation of a strategic medium‐term budget and policy plan‐ning process in Kirklees MBC. Six hypotheses are set out regarding the changes that might have been anticipated in the budget process, in the light of recent trends in the approach to budgeting in British local government, and the particular political context and recent political history…
Public participation and the democratic renewal agenda: Prioritisation or marginalisation
1999). Public participation and the democratic renewal agenda: Prioritisation or marginalisation? Local Government Studies: Vol. 25, Renewing Local Democracy? The Modernisation Agenda in British Local Government, pp. 46-59
Modernisation and devolution: Implications for local government
Steve Leach wonders whether the Labour government's proposals for local government reform are as ‘joined up’ as some would claim
Voluntary groups and local authorities: Rethinking the relationship
This article examines the changing nature of the relationships between voluntary groups and local authorities. It argues that the advent of the 'contract culture' has had a direct impact upon relationships. There is now a much greater preparedness of local authorities to work with, and channel funds to, a wide variety of external agencies including voluntary bodies. Equally important has been an increasing differentiation in the way local authori…
Understanding Local Political Leadership: Constitutions, Contexts and Capabilities
Despite Labour's clear vision of a new form of local political leadership, the impact of the Local Government Act 2000 has been limited - but at the same time diverse. Local authorities have overwhelmingly selected the 'least change' option, but have elaborated the new models in a variety of ways. Drawing on case study data and a new institutionalist framework, the article looks beyond formal structures at the emerging practice of local political…
Rethinking local political leadership
The changing nature of local political leadership in Britain over the past 25 years has received scant attention from political scientists. This article argues that changes in the roles and functions of local authorities have had a marked impact on the nature of local political leadership. Three phases (operational, transitional and collaborative) are identified and leadership roles are related to changes in the political context of local governm…
Public participation and the democratic renewal agenda: Prioritisation or marginalisation
1999). Public participation and the democratic renewal agenda: Prioritisation or marginalisation? Local Government Studies: Vol. 25, Renewing Local Democracy? The Modernisation Agenda in British Local Government, pp. 46-59
Of Roles and Rules: Analysing the Changing Relationship between Political Leaders and Chief Executives in Local Government
In Britain the formal institutional framework within which local leadership takes place has been transformed since 1997 — through new arrangements for executive decision-making and the introduction of `comprehensive performance assessment'. The article looks at how such changes have affected the relationship between political and managerial leaders in local government. Drawing on primary research, the article examines the interaction between the …
Scrutiny and the Political Party Group in UK Local Government: New Models of Behaviour
The introduction, via the Local Government Act 2000, of political executives held to account by influential overview and scrutiny committees challenges fundamentally the traditional operations of the party group system. This paper uses evidence from a variety of sources (including the experience of Parliamentary select committees) to explore how councillors are managing the tensions between party group loyalty and the expectation surrounding the …
Urban Elites in England: New Models of Executive Governance
Political leadership has become a much more explicit and widespread feature of English urban governance than it was 20 years ago. It has become particularly high profile since the Labour Government came into power in 1997 and sponsored legislation (Local Government Act 2000) which required all English local authorities to replace or modify the existing committee system of decision-making by adopting one of four prescribed options, the thrust of w…
Diluting the Role of Party Groups? Implications of the 2006 Local Government White Paper
This paper argues that the proposals for strengthening local political leadership outlined in the 2006 British government White Paper ‘Strong and Prosperous Communities’ are based on an unconvincing, methodologically flawed analysis of the benefits of strong individual leadership. The extent to which the continued dominance of the party group is inimical to the exercise of executive political leadership is analysed and a number of scenarios that …
English Metropolitan Government Since Abolition: An Evaluation of the Abolition of the English Metropolitan County Councils
The Local Government Act 1985 abolished the Greater London Council (GLC) and the six English metropolitan county councils (MCCS); but it did not abolish the services for which they were responsible. It transferred them: some directly to the lower‐tier borough or district councils, others to a variety of joint boards, joint committees, residuary bodies, and special purpose agencies. As a result, there are, in at least some of the former MCC areas,…
Voluntary groups and local authorities: Rethinking the relationship
This article examines the changing nature of the relationships between voluntary groups and local authorities. It argues that the advent of the 'contract culture' has had a direct impact upon relationships. There is now a much greater preparedness of local authorities to work with, and channel funds to, a wide variety of external agencies including voluntary bodies. Equally important has been an increasing differentiation in the way local authori…
Understanding the Local Government Review: A Retrospective Analysis
Reorganizations have provided fertile ground for researchers and practitioners seeking to draw lessons about the nature of public administration. The review leading to the reorganization of British local government in 1991‐96 sustains the tradition. In an extraordinary unfolding of events key features of the policy and political system are laid bare. This article provides a background analysis of the review, examines the main turning points in th…
Accountability in the post‐abolition metropolitan government system
Local Government: A New Vision, Rhetoric or Reality
Journal Article Local Government: A New Vision, Rhetoric or Reality? Get access Steve Leach, Steve Leach Professor of Local Government in the Local Governance Research Unit, Leicester Business School, De Montfort University, Leicester Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Lawrence Pratchett Lawrence Pratchett Reader in Local Democracy and Director of the Local Government Research Unit, Leicester Business School,…
Local Government: Selectivity and Diversity
The themes of selectivity and diversity are used to provide a structured interpretation of four key central government initiated projects currently affecting local government in one way or another. First, the progress of the local executive government agenda is considered. Second, the related issue of the government's enthusiasm for e‐government and e‐democracy is explored. Third, the development of Comprehensive Performance Assessments is evalua…
Impact of the abolition of the metropolitan county councils
1990). Impact of the abolition of the metropolitan county councils. Local Government Studies: Vol. 16, Impact of the Abolition of Metropolitan County Councils, pp. 1-11
The Politics and Management of Hung Authorities
Hung local authorities have grown in numbers in recent years. This paper analyses the experience of those authorities. First it reviews the growing body of literature and argues that it has largely been concerned with particular authorities. The authors then proposed a research‐based classification of hung authorities, before examining both the nature of political behaviour and changes in management. Finally, the paper identifies factors leading …
Reorganisation, Reorganisation, Reorganisation: A Critical Analysis of the Sequence of Local Government Reorganisation Initiatives, 1979–2008
There has been a lack of clarity about the principles and desirable outcomes behind the ad hoc reorganisations of local government since 1979 and the gradual journey towards creating unitary councils in England. Yet those reorganisations and the unitary councils that were created as a result have developed form a shared belief between governments, of different political complexion, that unitary local government is preferable to a two-tier or mult…
Strategic Planning in Local Government: A Study of Organisational Impact and Effectiveness
Strategic planning in British local government has enjoyed a renaissance over the past ten years, but little attention has been paid to the effectiveness of strategies at the local level. Strategic effectiveness can be assessed in terms of the success of the strategy in attracting resources (current and/or capital), its influence on existing programmes and as a vehicle for wider cultural change. This article interprets evidence from a case study …
Metropolitan labour parties: Scope, sanctions and strategy
County/District Relations in Shire and Metropolitan Counties in the field of Town and Country Planning: A Comparison
This article explores the reasons behind the variation in the quality of relationships between counties and districts in England and Wales, concentrating on the field of town and country planning, but within the context of a more general appraisal of the links between county and district. Three major types of influence are discussed: the attitude of the authorities concerned to the 1974 reorganisation; the political/technical power balance within…
The Audit Commission's View of Politics: A Critical Evaluation of the CPA Process
The Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) process introduced in the wake of the Local Government Act 2000 was in essence a managerial tool applied to a political environment. An analysis of the Commission's first tranche of CPA reports reveals a particular perspective on the role of politics and parties in local authorities which raises issues about the Commission's competence and legitimacy to make such judgements. Composite pictures of the…
Elected Mayors in England: A Contribution to the Debate
This article discusses the arguments for and against the introduction of elected mayors in England, as encouraged in the Local Government Act 2000. It analyses how the government’. mayoral proposals have been diluted in such a way that ‘strong mayors’ parallels from the USA are now less relevant. It examines the evolution effectiveness and extent of the current use of the mayoral office in the USA, and draws out the implications of this evidence …
The Labour Government's Local Government Agenda 1997–2009: The Impact on Member–Officer Relationships
In looking back over the Labour government's agenda for local government (1997–2009) six key themes can be identified: the move to local executive government; the emphasis on strong individual local leadership; the cumulative enhancement of the focus on partnership working; the strengthening of the performance/inspection culture; a concern with public engagement and community cohesion (particularly at neighbourhood level); and a further move towa…
The transfer of power from metropolitan counties to districts: An analysis
Center–Local Linkages: The Impact of Policy Planning Systems
This paper examines policy planning systems in British central-local government relations, and in particular the formal, structured relationship in the local transport policy sector, as a means of exploring the impact in intergovernmental relations of the form of linkage between institutions. This impact is analysed in terms of central government's ability to use the planning system to promote policy processes and promote and regulate policy cont…
Dishonest Government: Local Government Reorganisation, England 2006–2010
When I use a word’, Humpty-Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less.’ (Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass.) Abstract The local government reorganisation process introduced by the Labour government in England in the 2006–2010 period is characterised by a range of disturbing characteristics, in particular the misuse of the English language, the disjunctive between rhetoric and rea…
County/District Relations in Shire and Metropolitan Counties in the field of Town and Country Planning: A Comparison
This article explores the reasons behind the variation in the quality of relationships between counties and districts in England and Wales, concentrating on the field of town and country planning, but within the context of a more general appraisal of the links between county and district. Three major types of influence are discussed: the attitude of the authorities concerned to the 1974 reorganisation; the political/technical power balance within…
An Interaction Approach to County/District Relationships
This article attempts to develop a theoretical framework which will be of use in explaining inter- and intra- county variations in the quality of county/district relationships. It reviews the current meagre literature on inter-organisational relationships, and emphasises the limitations of Evan’s model. An alternative framework is developed by bringing together and reapplying a series of concepts from the literature on intra-organisational co-ord…
The current debate over the two‐tier system
Inner city policy
Center–Local Linkages: The Impact of Policy Planning Systems
This paper examines policy planning systems in British central-local government relations, and in particular the formal, structured relationship in the local transport policy sector, as a means of exploring the impact in intergovernmental relations of the form of linkage between institutions. This impact is analysed in terms of central government's ability to use the planning system to promote policy processes and promote and regulate policy cont…
The Widdicombe report: A perspective
The transfer of power from metropolitan counties to districts: An analysis
The Politics and Management of Hung Authorities
Hung local authorities have grown in numbers in recent years. This paper analyses the experience of those authorities. First it reviews the growing body of literature and argues that it has largely been concerned with particular authorities. The authors then proposed a research‐based classification of hung authorities, before examining both the nature of political behaviour and changes in management. Finally, the paper identifies factors leading …
Metropolitan labour parties: Scope, sanctions and strategy
Widdicombe: The research, the report and the bill
Impact of the abolition of the metropolitan county councils
1990). Impact of the abolition of the metropolitan county councils. Local Government Studies: Vol. 16, Impact of the Abolition of Metropolitan County Councils, pp. 1-11
Resource choice and the abolition process
Accountability in the post‐abolition metropolitan government system
English Metropolitan Government Since Abolition: An Evaluation of the Abolition of the English Metropolitan County Councils
The Local Government Act 1985 abolished the Greater London Council (GLC) and the six English metropolitan county councils (MCCS); but it did not abolish the services for which they were responsible. It transferred them: some directly to the lower‐tier borough or district councils, others to a variety of joint boards, joint committees, residuary bodies, and special purpose agencies. As a result, there are, in at least some of the former MCC areas,…
The Politics of Hung Authorities
In the 1980s there was a marked increase in the number of hung local authorities or authorities in which there was no clear majority. This book describes the different patterns of hungness and the res
Change and continuity in the hung counties part one: 1989–93
Hung councils: A plurality now have no majority
The hung authorities ‐1993 onwards
Monopolistic and hung councils: Outcomes of the 1995 local elections
This article records party results at the May 1995 local elections together with a breakdown of council governing arrangements and a hint of worse to come for the Conservative Party in May 1996
Building the capacity for strategy formation in local government
The indirectly elected world of local government
1996). The indirectly elected world of local government. Local Government Studies: Vol. 22, Quangos and Local Government: A Changing World, pp. 64-76
Introduction: The continuing relevance of the local government review
(1997). Introduction: The continuing relevance of the local government review. Local Government Studies: Vol. 23, Local Government Reorganisation: The Review and its Aftermath, pp. 1-4
The local government review: A ‘policy process’ perspective
(1997). The local government review: A ‘policy process’ perspective. Local Government Studies: Vol. 23, Local Government Reorganisation: The Review and its Aftermath, pp. 18-38
The Local Government Review: An Inter‐Organizational Perspective
This article uses Benson’s ‘political economy’ model of inter‐organizational relations to interpret inter‐authority relationships during the course of the local government review process in England (1992‐95) and in particular to explain the preparedness of large numbers of district councils to support proposals which implied their own destruction. Six more specific influences are identified which led to this outcome: (i) The changing pattern of e…
Understanding the Local Government Review: A Retrospective Analysis
Reorganizations have provided fertile ground for researchers and practitioners seeking to draw lessons about the nature of public administration. The review leading to the reorganization of British local government in 1991‐96 sustains the tradition. In an extraordinary unfolding of events key features of the policy and political system are laid bare. This article provides a background analysis of the review, examines the main turning points in th…
Political science (43 works) · Public Administration (37 works) · Public Administration (31 works) · Law (28 works) · Government (linguistics (22 works) · Local government (22 works) · Law (21 works) · Public Policy and Administration Research (21 works) · Politics (20 works) · Economics (17 works)