The Resurgence of Parish Council Powers in England

Parish councils are often underappreciated and undervalued in what they do even though they are an essential part of the governing of England today. In spite of this, the number of parish councils and the roles they perform are increasing. This book explores the reasons for this apparent resurgence in parish councils. Some of it is a response to local demand, especially with the impact of austerity on local government as a whole. At the same time, austerity measures have seen moves to much larger units of local government. Again, the demand for a more local tier of government has resulted in the creation of new parish councils. There is a huge caveat and this is in relation to capacity. Do these new councils have the capacity to deliver the services demanded of them?

Explores the role of parish councils in England Develops comparisons with sub-municipal government from other countries Examines the extent to which parish councils have the capacity to deliver more services

Autorentext

Alistair Jones is Associate Professor in Politics, and University Teacher Fellow, at De Montfort University, Leicester, UK. He has written several books on British Politics (including Contemporary Developments in British Politics and Government, with P. Cocker) and on the European Union (Britain and the European Union).

Inhalt

Chapter 1: Introduction: What is a Parish Council?.- Chapter 2: The drive for more cost-effective local government.- Chapter 3: The rise of parish councils?.- Chapter 4: An International Comparison.- Chapter 5: The Issue of Capacity.- Chapter 6: Conclusion: A Resurgence in Parish Councils?.