Elected mayors 'Only partial success' new report
Latest press releasesGovernment plans to see local authorities led by strong and outward-looking elected mayors or council leaders have worked "only sporadically and partially", according to a new study.
Instead, some mayors or council leaders have been tied down in politics rather than leading their communities, while others have been unable to pursue long term goals.
It also found leaders have been forced to divert their attention to prepare for public audits.
The report for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation concludes the emphasis on local government structure and strong leadership has been too narrow.
In the study, academics at De Montfort and Warwick universities looked at the impact of the Local Government Act 2000.
The Act offered authorities in England and Wales new leadership styles, including having an elected mayor and cabinet, an elected mayor with a council manager and a cabinet and leader.
Among those elected under the new rules were Mayor of Middlesbrough Ray Mallon, a former police officer dubbed "Robocop" for his zero-tolerance approach to crime.
Another elected mayor was H'Angus the Monkey of Hartlepool who is the mascot for the town's football team. The vote-winning slogan of H'Angus, otherwise known as Stuart Drummond, was "free bananas for schoolchildren".
Researchers considered whether the changes had affected how councils leaders kept political support, chose strategic policy, worked with other organisations and pursued political priorities.
Professor Steve Leach, of De Montfort University's Department of Public Policy, said: "The Government continues to emphasise the merits of `strong 'leadership in local government.
"Our research shows that this vision is too narrow and inappropriate to the overall aim of improving leadership.
"The debate needs to look at what constitutes `effective government leadership' and recognise the legitimate diversity of political leadership."
Co-author Professor Jean Hartley, of Warwick Business School, said the report showed effective political leadership was more complicated that previously thought.
She said: "It demonstrates that skills are important as well as structures."
The report, Local Political Leadership in England and Wales, will be launched this morning at the Local Government Association conference in Harrogate.
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Instead, some mayors or council leaders have been tied down in politics rather than leading their communities, while others have been unable to pursue long term goals.
It also found leaders have been forced to divert their attention to prepare for public audits.
The report for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation concludes the emphasis on local government structure and strong leadership has been too narrow.
In the study, academics at De Montfort and Warwick universities looked at the impact of the Local Government Act 2000.
The Act offered authorities in England and Wales new leadership styles, including having an elected mayor and cabinet, an elected mayor with a council manager and a cabinet and leader.
Among those elected under the new rules were Mayor of Middlesbrough Ray Mallon, a former police officer dubbed "Robocop" for his zero-tolerance approach to crime.
Another elected mayor was H'Angus the Monkey of Hartlepool who is the mascot for the town's football team. The vote-winning slogan of H'Angus, otherwise known as Stuart Drummond, was "free bananas for schoolchildren".
Researchers considered whether the changes had affected how councils leaders kept political support, chose strategic policy, worked with other organisations and pursued political priorities.
Professor Steve Leach, of De Montfort University's Department of Public Policy, said: "The Government continues to emphasise the merits of `strong 'leadership in local government.
"Our research shows that this vision is too narrow and inappropriate to the overall aim of improving leadership.
"The debate needs to look at what constitutes `effective government leadership' and recognise the legitimate diversity of political leadership."
Co-author Professor Jean Hartley, of Warwick Business School, said the report showed effective political leadership was more complicated that previously thought.
She said: "It demonstrates that skills are important as well as structures."
The report, Local Political Leadership in England and Wales, will be launched this morning at the Local Government Association conference in Harrogate.
end
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