QUANGOs and Local Government

Recent years have seen a major transformation in the way that local communities are governed. There has been a growth of 'government by appointment'. It has, of course, never been the case that local authorities have exercised all governmental powers in any particular locality. Others have always been involved but, in the past, local authorities confidently saw themselves as the rightful and undisputed leaders of their communities.

Now their position is under challenge as they find themselves sharing the local 'turf' with a whole range of bodies also exercising governmental powers at the local level.

The number of members of appointed and self-appointed bodies who have become known as the 'new magistracy' now greatly exceeds the number of elected local councillors. There is now an appointed world of local governance sitting alongside elected local government. Many appointed bodies (popularly known as QUANGOs) are seen, from the local government perspective, as domain intruders' and are often viewed with resentment and suspicion.

Certainly organisational roles and boundaries have become more blurred and confused. This publication seeks to develop understanding of the changing world of local governance and thus contribute to wider debates.