EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - New Localism – Citizen Engagement, Neighbourhoods and Public Services: Evidence from Local Government

New Localism – Citizen Engagement, Neighbourhoods and Public Services: Evidence from Local Government

Introduction

Report presenting a review of evidence on 'new localism' and local government in terms of active participation, citizen engagement, service delivery and neighbourhoods, including case studies of where users are engaged, and international examples.

Description

The Local and Regional Government Research Unit (LRGRU),within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), has undertaken a review of existing evidence around the topic of ‘new localism’ and produced a research ‘digest’.

New Localism is taken to refer broadly to active participation by citizens in local democracy and decision making. The particular focus is user involvement in service delivery and decision making, and the review is a contribution to the ODPM perspective, and to broader debates.

Background information

The digest is intended to bring together of the body of evidence held by the Local and Regional Government Research Unit (LRGRU) within ODPM on new localism. It also includes some of the wider evidence from elsewhere in ODPM, other Government Departments and external research, to give a broader context and a range of examples.

The aim is to present a range of existing evidence from various sources in the same place for the first time. It is offered as a description of other research, to facilitate discussion and contribute to the evidence base.

Methodology

The digest examines relevant research evidence through a literature review of government and external research.

Conclusions

Given the nature of the digest it contains no conclusions as such. However a detailed range of key findings are presented in three sections:

Findings on local democracy, engagement and participation
Findings from a series of case studies of services and areas most advanced in engaging users in service delivery and decision making
Findings from further afield; Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the European Union and worldwide.

Contact info

Communities and Local Government
Analytical.Services@communities.gsi.gov.uk

Publication date

Project finished

//2005

Researcher

Jane Aspden and Demelza Birch Local and Regional Government Research Unit

Links

http://www.communities.gov.uk/

Download the 'New Localism' Report (PDF, Eng, 646 KB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Community development

Keywords

Citizens' participation