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Since the 1990s there has been a long-standing concern in government towards public sector accountability, management, efficiency and service delivery. A number of studies have attempted to analyse the multitude of individual changes and their manifestations through analyses based on a variety of institutional, policy and governmental distinctions. This paper attempts to specify the changes with particular reference to planning, and to consider the evolution of the public service ethic in planning towards more openness, scrutiny, transparency and efficiency with particular reference to the changing ethos of the professional employee. We first explore the main impacts upon local government, the public service ethic and professional planning as a consequence of the Modernization agenda and freedoms and flexibilities initiative. We then look at how such changes have impacted upon the ethos and values in public service and planning. We draw on some evidence of Ombudsman cases to highlight issues of professional values in planning practice over the past decade before finally drawing these strands together in some conclusions. Our principal findings indicate that the much-trumpeted decline of services and standards may not have been as apparent as is sometimes portrayed and that internal professional attitudes and values towards the external changes may not have significantly altered over the same period.

Devolution has built upon and encouraged feelings of distinctiveness in Scottish Planning. However, beyond broad support there is little empirical evidence or assessment of future trajectories for planning. Based upon a comprehensive survey of planners across Scotland concerning attitudes towards planning post devolution this article highlights a number of important points. The main issue relates to the hiatus between high expectations and the perceived impact of the Parliament upon planning thus far. However, such expectations do not necessarily imply a divergence of planning between Scotland and the rest of the UK. Planners in Scotland, like their counterparts in England and Wales, desire a more community based and effective planning system. The Scottish Parliament is therefore yet to justify itself to planners. Scottish Parliament Devolution Planning

The political ideology driving urban statutory planning in the United Kingdom has held a central place within planning literature during the 1980s and 1990s. The distinctiveness of leadership style and political ideology associated with the Thatcher governments have been widely recognized both in practice and academia. However, the distinctiveness of political ideology to determine the form and status of statutory urban planning since John Major acceded to the prime ministership in 1990 has not been assessed so markedly. Questions emerge on whether Thatcherite ideology is continuing in the 1990s within the realm of planning and environment, of whether a watered down version of New Right policies are being implemented, or whether central government policies towards planning over the last six years marked a change in ideological direction. This paper examines statutory planning during the Major years with reference to the ideological components of Thatcherism. From this assessment, a comparative analysis is undertaken of both political administrations. The paper concludes by finding that although elements of Thatcherite ideology are continuing, there have been initiatives that move away from the primacy of the market. However, these do not form any `big theory': the differences between Thatcher and Major are more related to style than substance. Thatcherism is continuing but in a neo-Thatcherite way.

The analysis of the issues pertaining to spatial planning for the economic development of different regions of the United Kingdom is presented.

A focus on the planning system and local government modernization in the United Kingdom is presented. An insight into the issues involved in community strategies and development plans, is also presented.