Abstract
Recent initiatives for modernising local government have ignored the potential contribution of parish and town councils. This article critically examines English parish and town councils in the context of the current debate about the need for government to be more responsive to community needs. It considers measures to enhance the capacity of these grassroots councils by recalibrating the responsibilities and resources between tiers of local government. It concludes by setting out possible reforms to facilitate the contribution of these local councils to the modernising agenda as both representatives of the community and potential providers of local services.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 33-54 |
| Number of pages | 22 |
| Journal | Local Government Studies |
| Volume | 28 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2002 |