Local Government and the Territorial Constitution
Social Justice and Local Finances in the UK
Bristol University Press
1st Edition
Will be published approx. on 27. October 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
272 pages
978-1-5292-4561-5 (ISBN)
Description
Available open access digitally under CC-BY-NC-ND licence.
As devolution transforms governance across the UK, local authorities face unprecedented challenges in delivering services whilst managing severe budgetary constraints. This book investigates and provides insights into how local governments operate within Britain's evolving constitutional framework.
This comprehensive edited collection examines the realities of devolved powers across England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, revealing why simply transferring responsibilities from Westminster hasn't reduced social inequalities. The authors identify critical pressure points-from inadequate expertise to accountability failures-that undermine local governance effectiveness.
Essential reading for public administration scholars, policy makers and practitioners seeking evidence-based solutions to strengthen local democracy and promote social justice through better territorial governance.
As devolution transforms governance across the UK, local authorities face unprecedented challenges in delivering services whilst managing severe budgetary constraints. This book investigates and provides insights into how local governments operate within Britain's evolving constitutional framework.
This comprehensive edited collection examines the realities of devolved powers across England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, revealing why simply transferring responsibilities from Westminster hasn't reduced social inequalities. The authors identify critical pressure points-from inadequate expertise to accountability failures-that undermine local governance effectiveness.
Essential reading for public administration scholars, policy makers and practitioners seeking evidence-based solutions to strengthen local democracy and promote social justice through better territorial governance.
Reviews / Votes
"This book brings together an outstanding group of experts to examine financial and legal issues in local government. Despite the obvious importance of local government services in everyday life, there is relatively little scholarly analysis of the challenges affecting local authorities, faced with an ever-changing political climate and worsening financial pressures. A particular strength of the book is that the contributors are able to combine detailed legal analysis, for example, of local authorities' statutory obligations, with a rich understanding of the practical and financial constraints within which they must be fulfilled. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in law and policy relating to local government from both practical and constitutional perspectives." Anne Davies, University of OxfordMore details
Series
Edition
First Edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Bristol
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Illustrations
3 s/w Tabellen, 1 s/w Abbildung
3 Tables, black and white; 1 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-5292-4561-5 (9781529245615)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Yseult Marique is Professor of Law at Essex Law School.
Eugenio Vaccari is Associate Professor of Law at Royal Holloway University of London.
Eugenio Vaccari is Associate Professor of Law at Royal Holloway University of London.
Content
1. Mapping Powers, Resources, Accountability, and Social Justice - Eugenio Vaccari and Yseult Marique
Part I: The Constitutional and Financial Foundations of Local Governance
2. Local Government Finance: Constitutional Foundation and Central-Local Relations - John Stanton
3. Human Rights Local: A Contribution to Make Human Rights Locally Relevant - Koldo Casla
Part II : Local Powers in Practice: Housing, Education, Social Care and Policing
4. Local Taxation - Stuart MacLennan
5. Social Housing - Rebecca Amor
6. Extracting Accountability from Local Authorities in Delivering Essential Learning Provision to Children With SEND: The Challenges, Responsibilities, and Delivery - Mohammad Sabuj
7. Adult Social Care - Karl Mason
8. Police - Matt Clement
Part III: Accountability, Audit, and Governance Failures
9. Rethinking Local Government Accountability: Towards a Pluralistic Approach - Bernard Kofi Dom, Andre Feliciano Lino and Ileana Steccolini
10. Fraud in Social Housing - Andrew Lane
11. Local Standards and Financial Distress - Eugenio Vaccari
Part IV: Perspectives from the Devolved Nations
12. Social Justice in Scottish Local Government - Tom Mullen
13. From the Troubles to Transformation: Local Government and Social Justice in Northern Ireland - Duncan Morrow and Gavan Rafferty
Part I: The Constitutional and Financial Foundations of Local Governance
2. Local Government Finance: Constitutional Foundation and Central-Local Relations - John Stanton
3. Human Rights Local: A Contribution to Make Human Rights Locally Relevant - Koldo Casla
Part II : Local Powers in Practice: Housing, Education, Social Care and Policing
4. Local Taxation - Stuart MacLennan
5. Social Housing - Rebecca Amor
6. Extracting Accountability from Local Authorities in Delivering Essential Learning Provision to Children With SEND: The Challenges, Responsibilities, and Delivery - Mohammad Sabuj
7. Adult Social Care - Karl Mason
8. Police - Matt Clement
Part III: Accountability, Audit, and Governance Failures
9. Rethinking Local Government Accountability: Towards a Pluralistic Approach - Bernard Kofi Dom, Andre Feliciano Lino and Ileana Steccolini
10. Fraud in Social Housing - Andrew Lane
11. Local Standards and Financial Distress - Eugenio Vaccari
Part IV: Perspectives from the Devolved Nations
12. Social Justice in Scottish Local Government - Tom Mullen
13. From the Troubles to Transformation: Local Government and Social Justice in Northern Ireland - Duncan Morrow and Gavan Rafferty