Local government today appears no longer to be the great political and ideological battlefield it was in the 1980s. To those who run it – elected members and officials 0 to political commentators, and even to ministers, discussion is couched in terms of ‘consolidation; on the basis of where we now are and of the managerial direction for the future. The changes of the past decade are now in place; and the basis for the future is perceived to be development of the existing framework.
