Research documents

This page lists all research documents that have been published alongside the local government white paper, Strong and Prosperous Communities on 26 October 2006.

The documents listed below are available to download from the local and regional government research and statistics pages of the website, which you will find via the relevant link on the right hand side of this page.

To view a list of previous research documents published to inform the debate on the future of local government, please visit the 'archived research' section below.

Cross-cutting issues

Population Size and Local Authority Performance
This report presents findings from statistical analyses of the relationship between local authority size (in terms of the population it serves) and performance (both overall performance and in terms of individual service blocks). Published 26 October 2006.

Local and community leadership

Formative Evaluation of Community Strategies: The use of evidence in community strategies
This paper outlines how sustainable community strategies can be evidence-based. It details a model for developing such an evidence base and provides advice on the sources of evidence available to local authorities. Published 26 October 2006.
Local Area Agreements Research: Round 2 Negotiations and Early Progress in Round 1
This report explores the negotiation of Round 2 Local Area Agreements (LAAs) and the early implementation of Round 1. It's based on case study research and interviews in 18 local areas, the 9 regional government offices (GOs) and some central government departments.

New Council Constitutions and the Ethical Framework

Councillors, Officers and Stakeholders in the New Council Constitutions: Findings from the 2005 ELG Sample Survey
This report presents findings from a 2005 survey of councillors, officers and stakeholders in 40 local authorities and is part of the ongoing evaluation of new council constitutions. Specifically it compares findings with findings from the same survey conducted in 2003. Published 26 October 2006
Early Outcomes and Impacts: Qualitative research findings from the ELG evaluation of new council constitutions
This paper reports qualitative findings from in-depth interviews with over 40 key players in 10 local authorities to determine the extent to which new council constitutions are achieving stronger leadership, greater democratic legitimacy and the implementation of greater checks and balances. Published 26 October 2006
New Council Constitutions: A summary of the ELG Research Findings
This short summary paper brings together findings to date from the ongoing evaluation of new council constitutions and examines whether the new arrangements are achieving their objectives in English local authorities. Published 26 October 2006.

Participation, consultation and voting

Exemplars of Neighbourhood Governance
This report summarises findings from a study of neighbourhood governance and examines a range of neighbourhood arrangements to identify critical success factors and barriers to successful neighbourhood working. To do this both national and international case studies are presented. Published 26 October 2006.

Service delivery and improvement

The long-term evaluation of the Best Value regime: Final Report
This report presents final conclusions from a five year (2001-2005) evaluation of the implementation and impacts of the Best Value regime in local authorities. Published 20 November 2006.
Developing the local government services market
This report presents findings from an analysis of local government service markets and considers the key challenges and opportunities facing these markets. Published 7 November 2006.