SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL - LOCAL-GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION AND THE WORK OF SOCIAL-SERVICES DEPARTMENTS

British local government is undergoing the most far-reaching reorganis ation for 25 years. Government's explicit objectives for change emphas ised more local, cheaper, local government, although there were also i mplicit political objectives. Social services now represents the major directly-controlled local government activity; however, it was margin al in debates about reform. The impact of reform, particularly in term s of the size of the new unitary or 'hybrid' local authorities, may, h owever, be substantial. Research into the impact of reorganisation on authorities in England, Scotland and Wales raises questions about the extent to which new, smaller social services departments are sustainab le.