Theme: Local Government: With a Little Help From My Friends: Managing Public Participation in Local Government

Abstract

As the system of Best Value develops and matures, this article argues that there is a need within the literature for more research into the micro-management processes of public participation within local government. The article presents the findings of a study into the management of ‘friends’ groups as a form of public participation in a Best Value pilot council for parks and grounds maintenance situated in northern England. The conclusion is that this form of innovative community involvement is unlikely to be successful without substantial two-way commitment on the part of both the local council and the community, and unless parks officers are able to manage groups of this kind through their clearly demarcated developmental stages.