Everything you wanted to know about Local Government across the Commonwealth and more. In March, the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) launched the first ever Commonwealth Local Government Handbook in London. The Commonwealth Local Government Handbook 2002 contains profiles detailing the Local Government system in nine Commonwealth countries – Australia, Ghana, India, Jamaica, New Zealand, South Africa, Uganda, United Kingdom and Zimbabwe, with case studies of innovative reforms in Local Government structures and services throughout the Commonwealth.
This is the first in what will be a series of annual handbooks to be published over the next five years. The CLGF intends to build the Handbook to provide a comprehensive guide to Local Government in all Commonwealth countries. This is the first time that such information has been comprehensively collected and published.
The CLGF Board decided in 1998 to launch a research project to increase the exchange of ideas across Commonwealth Local Government. Research officer, Randal Smith, was employed to lead the project, and a Research Advisory Group (RAG) was set up comprising most of the research institutions that hold Associate Membership of CLGF.
The initial aim of the country profiles was to provide comparative knowledge as a background to the thematic studies. However, the demand for the basic outline of Local Government systems has grown as people learnt about the project.
The research for the country profiles was undertaken through visits to each country and collecting data from ministries and Local Government associations. This data has been tightly edited to allow for easy comparison between the great variety of systems across the Commonwealth.
The thematic studies provide busy policy makers and practitioners with succinct summaries of innovative practices and reforms undertaken across the Commonwealth.
The country profiles will be valuable to local Councils and others interested in international comparisons, or involved in international relations. They include contact points for follow up discussion with other policy makers or practitioners.
The thematic studies, from eight of the nine countries covered, are transferable across the globe with tailoring for the specific environment and should be of interest to anyone working in Local Government as a practitioner or policy maker.
Introducing the publication, CLGF Chair Len Duvall from the Greater London Authority said that, “As Local Government strives to improve and implement good practice, practitioners and policymakers in all spheres of government relating to Local Government require ideas.
“The Commonwealth Local Government Handbook 2002, our first major research publication, is aimed at bringing such new ideas to those practitioners and policymakers,” he said.“The country profiles contained in the first section of the Handbook provide the reader with comparative information on the Local Government systems in nine Commonwealth countries. This is the first time that such information has been comprehensively collected and published and demonstrates the unique perspective the CLGF brings to democracy and governance within the Commonwealth.”
All Local Government associations that are members of CLGF will obtain five copies each of the Handbook. Individual local authorities that are CLGF members will receive two copies each and the associate members will receive one copy each. Non members can receive copies by request to CLGF at info@clgf.org.uk for a small administration fee.
Future editions will be priced for non members. Details of membership are available from the CLGF website at www.clgf.org.uk
