Steve Leach – författare

Local government organisation and management in Britain is in the throes of a major transformation brought about by changing economic, social and political circumstances and central government legislation. This book outlines the major pressures for change and analyses and assesses local government's response in terms of role, culture, structure and internal process. Particular attention is paid to the consequences of new decentralised, competitive/regulatory and enabling models of what local authorities should be like in the mid 1990s.

The Local Government Review raised issues of political process and decision-making theories. The interest lies in the insights provided by academic analysis, and the highlighting of the lessons to be learned. This volume attempts to respond to both these perspectives.

First published in 1982, Approaches in Public Policy is an integrated, purpose-written text on the context, process, and practice of policymaking in the public sector, particularly at the local level. It has two main purposes. It aims to provide a stimulating and critical evaluation of trends in the analysis and formulation of policy by examining the realities behind such influential concepts and ideas as ‘rationality’, ‘information systems’, ‘distributional impact of services’ and ‘monitoring’. At the same time, it attempts through case study illustration to provide perceptive and detailed insights into the way such approaches have worked out in practice in a range of examples of policy initiatives in area management, regional planning, health care planning and Comprehensive Community Programmes.The book fills a significant gap in the literature by providing a well-structured set of papers which link theoretical arguments to an evaluation of topical examples of the policy process in action. It will be of interest to students and researchers of public administration, public policy making, planning, and similar topics.

First published in 1982, Approaches in Public Policy is an integrated, purpose-written text on the context, process, and practice of policymaking in the public sector, particularly at the local level. It has two main purposes. It aims to provide a stimulating and critical evaluation of trends in the analysis and formulation of policy by examining the realities behind such influential concepts and ideas as ‘rationality’, ‘information systems’, ‘distributional impact of services’ and ‘monitoring’. At the same time, it attempts through case study illustration to provide perceptive and detailed insights into the way such approaches have worked out in practice in a range of examples of policy initiatives in area management, regional planning, health care planning and Comprehensive Community Programmes.The book fills a significant gap in the literature by providing a well-structured set of papers which link theoretical arguments to an evaluation of topical examples of the policy process in action. It will be of interest to students and researchers of public administration, public policy making, planning, and similar topics.

English local government is in a state of decline after 40 years of incremental but cumulative centralisation by central government. This book is the first to directly address this trend's impact upon the institution of local government, a crucial element in the democratic viability of a unitary state. The process of centralisation, and its corrosive effect on the status and responsibilities of local government, have been widely recognised and deplored among politicians and senior officers within local government, and by academics with an interest in this field. However, there has been no study exploring in detail its impact, and, equally important, suggesting ways in which the growing imbalance between the powers of central and local government should be rectified. This book fills this gap.This text will be of key interest to scholars, students and practitioners of local government, and more generally to those interested in what has been happening to British politics and governance.

English local government is in a state of decline after 40 years of incremental but cumulative centralisation by central government. This book is the first to directly address this trend's impact upon the institution of local government, a crucial element in the democratic viability of a unitary state. The process of centralisation, and its corrosive effect on the status and responsibilities of local government, have been widely recognised and deplored among politicians and senior officers within local government, and by academics with an interest in this field. However, there has been no study exploring in detail its impact, and, equally important, suggesting ways in which the growing imbalance between the powers of central and local government should be rectified. This book fills this gap.This text will be of key interest to scholars, students and practitioners of local government, and more generally to those interested in what has been happening to British politics and governance.

The Local Government Review raised issues of political process and decision-making theories. The interest lies in the insights provided by academic analysis, and the highlighting of the lessons to be learned. This volume attempts to respond to both these perspectives.

In the 1980s there was a marked increase in the number of hung local authorities or authorities in which there was no clear majority. This book describes the different patterns of hungness and the response of local authorities to the new situation.

A practical tool for all job developers, this workbook presents strategies based on real situations and includes example exercises throughout. It draws on Steve Leach's thirteen years' practical experience in supported employment and is based on the principle of developing a client-centred approach to job development. It emphasizes the central importance of self-determination - ensuring that the individual makes their own choices to determine their future career.This flexible guide shows ways in which a support strategy can be developed in partnership with both employee and employer. Chapters are included on approaching and researching employers, establishing and improving the relationship between employee and employer, and on current debates in supported employment.The workbook also includes practical materials such as vocational profile forms, job analysis forms and support review charts. A comprehensive guide to delivering a supported employment service, it will enable professionals to support people with disabilities in finding and sustaining real jobs in real communities.

In our world of global superstar footballers, it's easy to forget the grassroots of a sport where loyalty to a hometown club is often rock solid - and counts for everything. Even as local communities come under threat, football fandom still pulls us together. But why is this? What is the special magic that connects towns and teams? For many of us, the local club offers it all: passion, hope, heartache, drama. And a sense of belonging. The town where we grew up and all the places we've lived are the bedrock of our lives, and memories of seeing the local team play are inextricably intertwined with our sense of place and identity. Steve Leach spends a year visiting the twenty towns and clubs that are special to him. He celebrates the distinctiveness of these places, the fascinating differences between Lincoln and Leyton, Barrow and Birmingham, Macclesfield and Morecambe - towns and teams that may not be glamorous, but they are unique and, more importantly, they are home.

Whilst the central government in Britain has often supported increases in local government size, the book argues that this has been detrimental, and has caused the erosion of distinctive community identities that were previously represented by local authorities empowered to make significant local choices about services and future strategy.