New development: All change? Performance assessment regimes in UK local government

Abstract

Contrasting approaches to assessing the performance of public services highlight important issues for policy-makers and future research. We need systematic comparisons between countries. We should use a broader range of evidence. The public ought to have a greater role in designing performance criteria, and we need to know more about the impacts of assessments.

Keywords:

• Audit
• local government
• performance assessment
• policy transfer

Acknowledgement

This paper draws on research undertaken as part of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Public Services Programme award number 166-25-0034 and an ESRC Knowledge Exchange Programme award number ES/J010707/1.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Steve Martin

Steve Martin is Professor of Public Policy and Management at Cardiff Business School, UK.

James Downe

James Downe is Senior Research Fellow, Cardiff Business School, UK.

Clive Grace

Clive Grace is Honorary Research Fellow at Cardiff Business School, UK.

Sandra Nutley

Sandra Nutley is Professor of Public Policy and Management at the University of St. Andrews, UK.