October 2007
FINAL REPORT PUBLISHED - the final annual report of the Evaluating Local Governance (ELG) evaluation team has been published and is available via the link below. Our key findings can be found on page eight. The report is also available on the Communities and Local Government (CLG) website.
An executive summary is also available as a separate short report both from the CLG website and via the link below.
Once again the ELG team would like to express our thanks to the many authorities who, over the five year period of our evaluation, willingly provided time to discuss with us the way in which their constitutions worked and allowed us to visit and talk to councillors, officers and stakeholders about their roles and responsiblities.
Summer 2007
During the early summer two ELG reports were published, the first providing the findings from the second ELG census summary of all English local authorities 'New Council consitutions four years on' (also available from the Communities and Local Government website). The issue paper 'Does Leadership Matter' (also available from the Communities and Local Government website) provided a focus on the executive arrangements ennacted by the 2000 Act, and considered the evidence of their impact in the light of the proposals for executive reform in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill currently going through its Parliamentary stages.
These reports are available on the CLG website or via the links below.
Research completed
The research into the evaluation of the Local Government Act 2000 has now finished and our final research reports will be published shortly. There will also be a series of workshops to disseminate findings to the local government community in the Autumn.
Many thanks to those authorities who assisted with our research.
November 2006
Local Government White Paper: CLG research carried out by IPEG
The Local Government White Paper, published on the 26 October, uses research evidence collected by the IPEG project on New Council Constitutions to support its proposed reforms of the executive and scrutiny.
Three reports from the project were published alongside the white paper. All have been made available on line at the CLG website via the links below.
- Strong and Prosperous Communities - The Local Government White Paper
- Councillors, Officers and Stakeholders in the New Council Constitutions: Findings from the 2005 ELG Sample Survey
- Early Outcomes and Impacts: Qualitative research findings from the ELG evaluation of new council constitutions
- New Council Constitutions: A summary of the ELG Research Findings
Further reports can be found on our research page.
Autumn 2006
The five year ELG evaluation of the Local Government Act 2000 is moving into the final phase and will report on the outcomes and impact of the new council constitutions in March of 2007 (see Final Evaluation Framework publication below).
The research team are currently drawing together data from case study visits to ten authorities during 2005 and 2006, findings from a sample surveys of councillors, officers and stakeholders in forty local authorities conducted in 2005 and the latest census survey of all authorities in the Spring of 2006. The survey report and issue papers setting out research findings from the fieldwork are due to be published later in the Autumn.
Summer 2006
Second census survey completed
We have just completed a second census survey of all English principal local authorities gathering details of council constitutions. This survey follows up on a similar survey in 2002 and provides a contemporary picture of political management arrangements in England and how constitutions have changed over the last four years. We received a response rate of 78% and we are extremely grateful to those who responded. We anticipate that a report providing research findings from this survey we be completed later in the Autumn.
The questionnaires are available for download via the links below.
- Alternative Arrangements Authorities
- Leader Cabinet Authorities
- Mayor and Cabinet Authorities
- Mayor and Council Manager
Latest publications
During the third year of the ELG evaluation we consulted on and finalised our evaluation framework which sets out how we will conduct the outcome and impact evaluation due March 2007. The final evaluation framework - which takes forward the ideas discussed in our issue paper 'Measuring outcomes and impacts: developing an evaluative framework' - can be accessed below.Additionally the latest publication in our issue papers series examines to new ethical frameworks in local authorities.
- Measuring Outcomes and Impacts: Final Evaluation Framework
- The Implementation of the New Ethical Framework in English Local Authorities: a process evaluation
December 2005
Good Response Rate to 2005 Follow-Up Survey of Councillors, Officers & Stakeholders
The second ELG survey of councillors, officers and stakeholders has closed after achieving an overall response rate of 46%. This represents an improved response rate from the first sample survey conducted two years ago which had a 40% overall response rate. We are extremely grateful to the 40 authorities who helped us with distributing the survey and to individuals who took time to respond. Their views and information will be enormously helpful for the ELG evaluation and will feed into the current policy reviews. PDF files of the questionnaires can be viewed by following the links below.
- Questionnaire to Local Authority Councillors 2005
- Questionnaire to Local Authority Officers 2005
- Questionnaire to Local Stakeholders 2005
We are sorry but the visually impaired visitors to these documents may not be able to read these files. Please contact Francesca.Gains@manchester.ac.uk, who will be pleased to provide a paper version.
February 2005
Latest ELG Issue Papers Published
The latest ELG issue papers are now available here and on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister website. The papers cover Councillors and the New Council Constitutions, and Stakeholders and Officers under the New Council Constitutions, which provide detailed analysis from our survey of councillors in forty authorities. Also posted is a paper reporting on The Implementation of New Council Constitutions in Hung Authorities and one discussing Political Leadership under the New Council Constitutions.
The papers can be downloaded via the links below.
- Councillors and the New Council Constitutions
- Stakeholders and Officers under the New Council Constitutions
- The Implementation of New Council Constitutions in Hung Authorities
- Political Leadership under the New Council Constitutions
We would welcome any comments or discussion prompted by these latest issue papers as well as our research design issue paper posted last month which is currently out for consultation (see below).
January 2005
Consultation on Phase Two
Feedback requested on ELG 'Measuring Outcomes and Impacts of the New Council Constitutions' Issue Paper.
The ELG team are posting a short issue paper setting out how we intend to approach the second phase of the new council consitutions evaluation.
As well as being available here the paper will be mailed directly to relevant organisations and contacts to ask for comments. We would welcome any questions, thoughts and suggestions before the end of February so that we may reflect on these contributions before we finalise our evaluation framework in a report for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister due in April. In particular we would welcome contributions which relate to the task of identifying measures for outcomes and impacts of the new council consitution and ethical framework. Please feel free to email us using the contact us link - we welcome your views.
July 2004
ELG Second Year Report Published
The second year of our research looked at the processes established to operationalise the new constitutions and involved visits and a panel type survey to members, officers and local stakeholders in forty authorities. Once again we are indebted to those who completed the questionnaire and to those helping us distribute them, as well as those who helped organise and participated in our site visits. As well as the annual report we have produced a summary of research on the New Council Constitutions which can be accessed below.
- Operating the New Council Constitutions in English Local Authorities: A Process Evaluation
- A Summary of Research Evidence on New Council Constitutions in Local Government
Issue Papers on Alternative Arrangements & Mayoral Authorities
We have produced short issue papers on how the reforms are being experienced in Alternative Arrangements authorities and in those authorities with directly elected Mayors. Both these issue papers can be accessed via the links below. Future issue papers will explore the impact of the new arrangements in hung or balanced authorities, on leadership in the new executives and on the officer role. Any thoughts on any of these issues welcomed.
- The Implementation of New Council Constitutions in Alternative Arrangement Authorities
- How are Mayors Measuring up?
Summer 2003 - Our first year report research update
ELG Implementation Report published
The project's first year report is now available both in its full form and as an executive summary. The summary has been sent to all Chief Executives. The report maps the enormously varied wasy in which councils have implemented the the Local Government Act 2000. Once again many many thanks to all those who assisted us in gathering the information for this report. Any feedback or comments welcomed either in the discussion section of the site or in direct emails to the researchers via ipeg@manchester.ac.uk.
The reports are available for download via the links below.
- Implementing the 2000 Act with Respect to New Council Constitutions and the Ethical Framework: First Report
- Executive summary
The next phase
The next phase of the research will be looking at the processes established to operationalise the new constitutions and involves visits and a panel type survey to members, officers and local stakeholders in forty authorities. Once again we are indebted to those who are sending back the questionnaire at the moment and to those helping us distribute them. We hope to report on early findings around Christmas.
Issue papers coming up
We will also be producing more issue papers over the coming year on Alternative arrangement authorities and mayoral authorities. On the impact of the new arrangements in hung or balanced authorities, on leadership in the new executives and on the officer role. Any thoughts on any of these issues welcomed.
Consultation on theory of change
Finally, we will shortly be beginning our consultation on our 'theory of change'. This will assist us in our evaluation in not just mapping how authorities have changed but why. Consultation will be to various representative bodies and we will publish a working draft on the web for comments.
Diversity issue paper
We have also produced a short issue paper exploring the question of how the new political management arrangements impact on diversity of representation. We argue that there is little evidence from our survey or site visits that the new arrangements have had a detrimental impact overall. We found great variation in the level of representation of women across different party groups, regions and types of council. We argue that improvements in diversity relate to wider changes in society and local practice in the way that political parties and councils respond to the challenges they face.
The paper is available for download via the link below.
April 2003
ELG report on implementation due soon
The evaluation team have completed our visits to local authorities. These visits were to gather qualitative information to illuminate the quantitative data we gathered in our survey last summer. We have visited forty authorities which representing a balanced sample across the regions, types of authority, types of political management arrangement and political control.
Many thanks to those authorities who hosted our visits, made us very welcome and provided valuable and insightful comments on the implementation of the new council constitutions and ethical frameworks.
We are drawing together material from the survey and the visits to produce our implementation report for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. This will be available on this site later in May.
November 2002
Report of ELG Survey Findings for ODPM Advisory Group
This paper reports on survey work undertaken in the summer of 2002 into the ways that councils in England have implemented the measures in the 2000 Act relating to the new constitutional, political management and standards arrangements. The survey received a very good overall response rate of 74 per cent and we are as ever grateful to those in the local authorities that took the time and trouble to fill out the survey
September 2002
73% response to ELG survey
The ELG survey of local authorities' responses to the new political management and ethical framework arrangements has had a 73% return rate. This is a good response and very much appreciated given the enormous amount of research activity in local authorities at the moment.
All local authorities were sent a questionnaire by the ELG team on behalf of the ODPM. The level of response - which is good for all regions, types of authority and type of political management arrangement - means our findings will be relevant and valid. Of course any additional responses are welcomed and can be
included in the analysis.
We are working on the data and hope to get initial findings back to the local government community as soon as possible. In the meantime many thanks again to all those who took time to fill in and return the questionnaire. Any comments, queries or general feedback on the process is also welcomed. You can contact us on the ELG helpline 0161 275 1472 or by email on ipeg@manchester.ac.uk
July 2002
ELG questionnaires are sent out
The first stage of the ELG evaluation is now underway as 389 questionnaires reached all English local authorities on Monday 1st July. Many thanks to those authorities who helped with piloting this questionnaire. The research team were concerned to make sure we asked the right questions and asked them in the right way to make responding as painless as possible. The very helpful suggestions from the pilot authorities were vital in ironing out difficulties. Thanks also to those authorities that have already returned completed questionnaires. We hope to have most responses back before the summer period and to be able to feedback the results to the local government community in the early autumn.