Volume 15: Government and Public Administration
9. Local government
Relations between local and central government

9.38 Before 1986 central government had for some time effectively determined the functions of local government, and there had long been tensions as it tightened controls over local authority expenditure. During the BSE period, relationships worsened when responsibility for a number of services was removed from local authorities: for example, the funding of certain educational institutions which reduced local authorities' influence over the provision of state education. On the other hand, in 1993 local authorities became responsible for funding community care social services. Although none of these changes was related to BSE, they were all controversial, with some local authorities feeling that central government was reducing their ability to influence local services. These changes also led to arguments about how much funding should be redirected. For example, when responsibility for further education colleges was removed from local authorities, more than £2 billion of funding was taken with it.

9.39 Developments of this kind, and a sustained government policy of seeking to reduce the size and influence of the public sector, contributed to relations between elected council members and Ministers being often distant and on occasion hostile. However, cooperation continued throughout at working level, between civil servants and council officials.