City Research Online

Abstract

The Big Society policy and the Coalition’slocalism agenda set out objectivesregarding the decentralisation of power and the empowerment of local people, with the aim that previous governments’ centralism and top-down bureaucracy could become a thing of the past. This article presents qualitative empirical data, obtained from semi-structured interviews in five London Borough Councils, and explores the extent to which the 2010–2015 Government achieved these aims, with a particular look at planning reform and policy. It considersthat, in part due to severe financial cuts and persisting centralised bureaucracy, efforts to decentralise have not been successful; whilst local people, though often empowered, tend to get involved regardless or even in spite of central government activity. Following the 2015 General Election and the forming of a new Government, this article presents the case for a changed attitude towards local government; one founded on greater freedom, less bureaucracy and increased trust in local authorities.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Stanton, J., Journal of Planning and Environmental Law, 2015, Sweet and Maxwell reproduced with permission of THOMSON REUTERS (PROFESSIONAL) UK LIMITED.
Subjects:	J Political Science > JS Local government Municipal government
Departments:	The City Law School > Academic Programmes
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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