Localism and Accountability in a Post-Collaborative Era: Where Does It Leave the Community Right to Challenge?

Abstract

Since the establishment of subsidiarity in the early 1990s, the European-wide move to devolve governance has been interpreted by previous and present UK governments adopting differing ideological positions within a ‘localism agenda’. Interpretations have changed the dynamics of the community right to challenge, as well as the structure and mechanisms for community accountability. This article adopts the typology of forms of local governance developed by Lowndes and Sullivan (2008, How low can you go? Rationales and challenges for neighbourhood governance. Public Administration, 86 (1), 1–22) to explore the hypothesis that the localism agenda realigns the synergy between neighbourhood rationales; citizen engagement in service delivery and the opportunity for public scrutiny and accountability. It concludes that opportunities for communities to challenge service delivery and ensure increased accountability to the local level will be tempered by increased complexity and demands on local authorities to develop new relationships with both service users and providers.

Key Words:

• Accountability
• communities
• localism
• neighbourhoods
• governance

Notes

1. For instance, analysis of comparative case studies in Germany, England and France concluded that contextual variables such as ‘characteristics of the policy field, political goals of decision-makers and the time passed since the reform’ were far more significant (Ebinger et al. 2011, p. 572).

2. A significant development of Best Value was that services were held to account at local neighbourhood level by instigating rigorous reviews.

3. Initially in formally declared areas of neighbourhood regeneration (generally areas of high multiple deprivation), but later in all parts of England.

4. Regional organisations were being disbanded, local authorities were looking at new forms of service delivery and the direct impact of the spending cuts being implemented during this time was becoming a reality for all.

5. The Department for Work and Pensions noted that about 200 voluntary sector groups would be involved in its delivery, but they are to be largely part of supply chains.