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Two distinguishing features of the New Labour Government have been its focus on regionalism and the establishment of a department of state, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), explicitly dedicated to ‘cultural’ policy. This paper tracks the development of a new set of regional cultural organizations, the Regional Cultural Consortiums (RCCs). These were established to contribute to regional development and to deliver the DCMS's national policy goals. The paper examines the RCCs' remit, challenges, achievements and prospects, and locates these in wider debates about evidence-based policy and continuity and change in cultural and regional policy. Particular consideration is given to the RCCs' research and data collection activities and their role in developing a move towards improved capacity in regional cultural research and data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the process of establishing a coastal forum in the North West region of England. The North West Coastal Forum is one of the first attempts at the establishment of a regional forum in England and is especially notable for the role played by the Government Office for the North West in its formation. The paper examines the relationships between the key agencies involved and, in particular, the key role played by the Government Office for the North West in promoting and establishing the forum and how this has influenced its organization, structure and composition. It provides a critical analysis of the apparent and potential strengths and weaknesses of the forum as an example of a partnership approach to the planning and management of coastal issues in the North West. The conclusions are not only of relevance to the future development of the forum within the North West of England, and to the potential establishment of similar coastal fora elsewhere, but are also of much broader interest as a case example of the development of institutional capacities and collaborative partnership approaches to planning issues at the regional level in the wider context of the changing nature of regional governance in the UK and the enhanced 'regional partnership' role being embraced by the government offices for the regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The British Government announced large-scale reforms of England's planning policy in May 2010. The resultant National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was released in March 2012. Despite assurances from the Government that the principles governing the management of the historic environment through the planning system would remain largely intact, the policy reform process caused considerable concern and upheaval for historic environment interest groups, and prompted a great deal of activity to assure its interest. This paper sets the context for the historic environment sector's political engagement in England, with insights applicable to the place of heritage advocacy within the power webs of wider agencies of government. The paper examines the campaign led by the heritage charity, the National Trust, and contrasts its strategy with that practised by other bodies in the sector to evaluate the (in)effectiveness of advocacy strategies in the current political climate. The power dynamics and the intricacies of policy processes, as well as the strategies of historic environment agencies engaging with them, are considered. The study concludes that, although the NPPF release was eventually received as a reasonably positive outcome for the interests of the sector, it illustrates the lengths to which political advocates must now go in order to effect change and, conversely, shows how vulnerable we may be if we are not alert to the changing public policy environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regional Development Agencies have been given the fundamental aim of improving their regions' economic performance and competitiveness. Supporting innovation is a cornerstone of this policy. This paper explores the limitations of region-based strategies arguing that this neglects the importance of policy intervention at the local level, using case studies of Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New medicines represent exciting possibilities to individual patients for improved futures through reduced morbidity, as well as the potential for disappointment where promised outcomes are not forthcoming. For healthcare systems these technologies can enable enhanced effectiveness as well as spiralling costs, depending on value-for-money offered. Amidst uncertainty over efficacy and pricing, institutions such as the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence have been set up to regulate the cost-effectiveness of new products. The increased transparency of this new regulation, combined with inescapable uncertainties, leads to the heightened politicisation of decision-making and an insidious subjectivity beneath a veneer of rational-bureaucracy. This paper develops a theoretical framework for understanding the influence of hope within such contexts. Conceptualised here as ideological, affective and prone to lapsing into trust, hope is considered to shape the lifeworld-background of regulatory decisions and mask uncertainty around effectiveness. These processes challenge regulator legitimacy and effectiveness within polycentric regimes, through the distortion of communication and the manipulation of blame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper draws parallels between the market trend in the English NHS and Polanyi's (1957) The Great Transformation: The political and economic origins of our time, Beacon Press: Boston (originally published in 1944 in the United States as The Great Transformation, Rinehart: and Co: New York, and in 1945 in England as Origins of our time, Gollancz: London) account of how the rise of markets provokes a self-protective counter-reaction that tries to re-embed economic relations in social relations. We report findings from a qualitative study of NHS contracting, which examines the recent move to harder-edged contracts with greater use of financial penalties and incentives. In practice, use of these techniques tended to be confined to nationally-mandated sections of the contract rather than emerging from local bilateral agreements, and when things went wrong the parties relied more on cooperative behaviour than on the provisions of the contract to find solutions. Making the current contracting system work depended more on existing relational networks than on the incentive structures created by recent 'marketisation' initiatives, but the inability of the market to evolve as expected has encouraged policy makers to publish plans for further radical reforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of government policy for the protection of vulnerable adults [Department of Health (2000) No Secrets] has set expectations for the development of multi‐agency policies and procedures in adult protection in England. Multi‐agency working in adult protection mainly concerns complex cases involving more than one service user or where a number of managers or practitioners are involved. However, these also tend to be the most serious abuse cases where the necessity for effective inter‐agency co‐ordination collaboration between social services authorities (local authorities) and health trusts (NHS) is most acute, especially with the development of partnership working such as in learning disability [Department of Health (2001) Valuing People]. Moreover, effective collaboration with the police in the conduct of adult protection casework and process is required for cases where criminal offences may have been committed. These demands put high expectations on the professionals involved. Based on a series of joint training interventions between social services and health personnel in Kent, this paper identifies key issues for the effective performance of joint adult protection investigations and maps both the challenges and management and practice competencies required. Potential solutions to the complexities of managing multi‐agency investigations in adult protection were identified with potential relevance to improving adult protection case management and co‐ordination more widely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attempts to introduce a new managerialism into local authorities have taken place consistently and continuously over the last 20 years in an effort to secure lower costs as well as performance improvements. Most of this activity has involved the use of private sector providers. This paper reviews the development of a partnership between the housing department of a London borough and a large, private sector contractor that took over the running of this service several years ago. Drawing upon data collected over an 18-month period, three aspects of the relationship between the two parties are examined: performance levels, opportunities for inter-organisational learning, and the experience of work. The conclusion is that there have been few gains for any of the stakeholders from this process, largely due to the complexities involved in managing contractual relations in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of building obsolescence and its relationship with depreciation within office investment portfolios is shown to relate to the changing characteristics and requirements of tenant organizations globally. Building appraisal techniques are introduced as powerful tools used by management to analyse the characteristics of office properties and identify potential problem areas that necessitate modernization. A methodology used for research into the functional performance characteristics of City of London office properties is illustrated as a means of collecting information suitable for the development of decision support models. Analysis of results from statistical and artificial intelligence models shows that office building design quality characteristics and tenant organization work practice typologies can be used to explain functional performance as perceived by occupiers. The paper establishes that user-based building performance data can be modelled effectively and is applicable in a range of management activities particularly those which attempt to counteract obsolescence and consequent depreciation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the approach of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to institutional strategy and planning. Lack of clearly identified and prioritised missions amongst higher education institutions; Criticism on the strategic planning model of HEFCE.

This article considers the trajectory and effectiveness of policy, procedures and practice in the UK since the early 1990s in responding to young people who display problematic and harmful sexual behaviours. It draws on data from three publications in which research, policy and practice in the last 20 years have been reviewed. Key themes raised by Masson and Hackett are revisited including: denial and minimisation; terminology and categorisation; similarities with other young offenders; the child protection and youth justice systems; and assessment and interventions. The authors find that there is improvement in recognition of, and practice in response to, this group of young people, but good practice standards are inconsistently applied. With devolution of political powers, Scotland and Northern Ireland are now embarking on a more strategic response than England. The absence of a public debate and prioritising of primary prevention of child sexual abuse is noted. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Individual Budgets (IBs) were piloted in 13 English local authorities during 2005-2007. Similar to personal budgets and 'cash-for-care' schemes in other parts of Europe and beyond, IBs built upon previous English government initiatives to increase choice and control by users of adult social care services. A key aim of the IB pilots was to bring together resources from different funding streams to which an individual was entitled, and integrate or align those funding streams, thereby reducing the number of assessments and reviews; then allow those resources to be spent flexibly according to individual wishes and needs. IBs, available only to those eligible for adult social care services and support, could include resources from up to five other funding streams which, among them, were the responsibility of three different government departments: Access to Work, Disabled Facilities Grants, Integrated Community Equipment Services, Independent Living Funds, and Supporting People. Qualitative interviews with IB lead officers and funding stream lead officers formed part of the larger evaluation of the IB pilots (IBSEN study) and revealed deep disappointment that only minimal progress with integration had been possible, with the exception of Supporting People. This article explores possible reasons for the failure to integrate funding streams despite strong aspirations at local and national levels: legislative barriers; continuing accountability to individual funding streams; concerns over destabilizing the market; and concerns over the budgetary implications of an expected increase in demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This profile explains the assessment system in England, concentrating on those aspects that are related to government policy. It begins by putting the system in context; it then describes the national educational structure, curriculum and assessment arrangements. The government agencies responsible for carrying out education policies are introduced. In order to illustrate the intersection of curriculum and assessment development and political policy, the profile describes and discusses assessment issues that highlight the role of government and its agencies in the development, implementation and monitoring of England's national curriculum tests and 14-to-19 qualifications. It argues that successive governments have increasingly intervened directly in curriculum and qualifications development, and observes the growing governmental policy influence over assessment issues and the repercussions of that influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the views of the Conservatives in London local government, and Conservative and Labour councillors outside London, during the abolition of the Greater London Council -- (GLC) and the Metropolitan County Councils -- (MCCs) in 1985. The official reasons of the Conservative government for the abolition are assessed, as well as the alleged political reasons causing the demise of these metropolitan tiers. It is argued that the views of the Conservative boroughs in London and the attitude of Conservative and Labour districts outside London created an environment in which the government could achieve its goal; the government's official arguments for the abolition were based on assertion and assumptions rather than evidence or competent research; and the government was mainly motivated by party-political reasons or partisan advantage in this controversial policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deals with the establishment of regional development agencies (RDA) in England. What prompted its establishment; Criteria that a model RDA should comply to; Style of operation and the roles performed by RDA; Levels of analysis and activity which have emerged from the early activity in establishing RDA.

The Education Reform Act of 1988 has led to a radical change in education. Any measurement of the impact of the abolition of the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) so soon after the event must therefore be tentative. Certain objectives were identified by the Government to support the case for abolishing the ILEA. However, as powers already existed to address most of those objectives, it would be misleading to regard their attainment as an outcome of the abolition of ILEA. The outcomes that can be observed or predicted result from the imposition of local planning considerations on a strategically planned service; and from the loss of specialized services that ILEA's size had been able to sustain. Abolition has also had a significant impact on the London boroughs at a practical level, doubling their workforce and budget. In combination with other legislative change and often weak corporate systems, taking responsibility for education has placed considerable strain on borough administrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the development of charging policies for the making of public path orders (PPOs) in England and Wales. It is stated that planning PPOs are used to make changes that allow path diversions or extinguishments in order that development may take place over an existing right of way. It is inferred that the power to charge is discretionary and authorities may choose not to invoke it, and it may not be cost-effective to charge if there are only one or two orders each year. In deciding whether or not to charge, the authority may take into account such factors as the applicant's financial hardship or the potential benefits to the public of the proposed changes. It also offers an overview of the extent and nature of charging policies.

The article discusses the development of revitalized bodies in the public education service of England and the subsequent transfer of the powers of local education authorities (LEAS) to them. New magistrates and commissariats such as admissions and exclusions appeals committees, Office for Standards in Education, Higher Education Funding Councils and Further Education Funding Councils assumed much financial discretion, and were entasked to handle school teachers' pay and other conditions of employment, control staffing establishments, regulate admissions numbers across schools and inspect the LEA schools at large. Legal issues concerning the empowerment of such bodies are presented.