The Comparative Study of Local Government Organisation

Unless the intentions of the Conservative government are thwarted, existing local authorities in England and Wales, other than those in London, will be replaced in April 1974. The election of local councils will have taken place twelve months earlier. One would expect such a major change to lead to changes in organisational practices and the development of new organisational forms. For example, the transfer of functions from existing urban authorities to the proposed shire authorities will require the latter authorities to adapt their inherited organisational arrangements. Similarly, the loss of functions will require the reconciliation of existing arrangements with future requirements. In many instances the proposed authorities will be faced with new populations incorporating larger and different clienteles. In some cases there will be no existing arrangements upon which to base the necessary organisation. In all cases there will be the opportunity for—and, more important, an expectation of—organisational change. Within authorities, new central coordination machinery may be created, and changes may take place in, for instance, the numbers and functions of committees and departments. Changes may also take place at the level of the department

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