Suchergebnisse

In the 1950s, in contradiction to the stated policy of the then Conservative government, the Scottish Office was able to secure the designation of a new town at Cumbernauld. The main impetus came from the civil servants in the Department of Health for Scotland. The case study throws considerable light on the bargaining process within government. (Abstract amended)

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) (SCOTLAND) ACT MARKS A MAJOR CHANGE IN CENTRAL-LOCAL RELATIONS IN ALLOWING SELECTIVE INTERVENTION IN THE EXPENDITURE DECISIONS OF INDIVIDUAL COUNCILS. THE CRITERIA FOR ACTION, BASED UPON THE CONCEPT OF 'EXCESSIVE AND UNREASONABLE' EXPENDITURE ARE BROADLY DRAWN. IN TAKING ACTION AGAINST SEVEN COUNCILS IN 1981-2, THE SCOTTISH OFFICE APPLIED ITS OWN CRITERIA INCONSISTENTLY. THE CASE AGAINST THE COUNCILS LACKED INTELLECTUAL CREDIBILITY AND AN ALTERNATIVE 'HIT LIST' COULD AS PLAUSIBLY BE PRODUCED. THE COUNCILS' REACTIONS AND THE EXCHANGES WITH THE SCOTTISH OFFICE SHOW A VARIED PATTERN, WITH A MINORITY STRESSING THE PRINCIPLE OF LOCAL AUTONOMY. THE ACT HAS FAILED TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVES WHICH CENTRAL GOVERNMENT APPEARED TO HAVE IN MIND. IT HAS, INSTEAD, FURTHER ERODED LOCAL AUTONOMY AND DESTABILIZED CENTRAL-LOCAL RELATIONS IN SCOTLAND.