Part 1. Local government: The basics : Introduction-our aims and approach -- Themes and issues in local government -- Why elected local government? -- The development of local government -- Current structures -- The changing functions of local government -- Central-local government relations -- The national local government system -- Finance-the nuts and bolts -- Finance-the recent story -- Part 2. The politics and people of local government : Local elections -- Councillors-the voice of choice -- The local government workforce -- Political parties -- Power relationships inside local authorities -- Local pressure groups: The exercise of influence -- Part 3. An agenda of change : Local government reorganisation-the contemporary debate -- Developments in internal management -- The impact of compulsory competitive tendering -- The shape of things to come

1. Local government -- Great Britain