Bulletin n. 2-3/2012
October 2012-February 2013
CONTENTS
  • Section A) The theory and practise of the federal states and multi-level systems of government
  • Section B) Global governance and international organizations
  • Section C) Regional integration processes
  • Section D) Federalism as a political idea
    • McGarvey Neil
    Inter-Municipal Cooperation: The United Kingdom Case
    in Istituzioni del federalismo , n. 3 ,  2012 ,  523 -548
    This paper outlines the practice of inter-municipal cooperation (more commonly referred to as shared services) in the United Kingdom. Like many things the UK approach leaves it as something of an outlier in relation to the continental European norm. The scale of local government, nonproportional electoral system and deeply embedded systems of centralisation contribute to its outlying status. However, recent developments would temper this thesis of UK exceptionalism. Local government in the UK is presently in the midst of what could be called a ‘perfect storm’ – a UK Government deficit reduction programme which is cutting back central grant coupled with rising expectations and demands for local government services. Faced with this climate councils are looking to new ways to increase efficiency, make savings and increase their own income. Sharing of services has emerged as an important part of that agenda. The institutional context (which influences the way actors define their interests and preferences) in the UK is changing, and the sharing of services between different local authorities is becoming more common practice.
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