The Labour government's modernization proposals for local government promise to bring about a new era of local democracy through which local authorities are more in touch with their citizens. Plans to increase electoral turnout, pioneer new modes of public participation and introduce new cabinet style political management arrangements are all converging to redefine the nature of local democracy in the UK. How are local authorites responding to this modernization agenda, and what problems face those who would reform local democracy?

The Labour government's modernization proposals for local government promise to bring about a new era of local democracy through which local authorities are more in touch with their citizens. Plans to increase electoral turnout, pioneer new modes of public participation and introduce new cabinet style political management arrangements are all converging to redefine the nature of local democracy in the UK. How are local authorites responding to this modernization agenda, and what problems face those who would reform local democracy?