THE LOCAL-GOVERNMENT REVIEW - AN INTERORGANIZATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

This article uses Benson's 'political economy' model of inter-organiza tional relations to interpret inter-authority relationships during the course of the local government review process in England (1992-95) an d in particular to explain the preparedness of large numbers of distri ct councils to support proposals which implied their own destruction. Six more specific influences are identified which led to this outcome: (i) The changing pattern of expectations and perceived possibilities as the Review progressed. (ii) The conflictual context of relations wi thin the network linking individual counties and districts, and their respective associations. (iii) The influence of the districts' nationa l representative body - the ADC - which was arguing strongly for a 'su per-district' solution. (iv) The plausibility of the view of some merg ers as de facto takeovers of one authority by another. (V) The special nature of local authorities as (party) political institutions as well as public sector bureaucracies. (vi) The rationing of information thr ough central-local networks, in the context of 'unclear rules'. It is concluded that with certain modifications Benson's framework provides a helpful explanatory mechanism.