PART 1: LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THE BASICS - Introduction - Our Aims and Approach - Themes and Issues in Local Government - Why Elected Local Government? - The Way it Was - The Way it Is - External Structures - The Way it Is - Internal Structures - Changing Functions - Governance and Partnership - Central-Local Government Relations - Local Finance - PART 2: THE POLITICS AND PEOPLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT - Local Elections - Christmas Tree Lights? - Councillors - The Voice of Choice - The Local Government Workforce - Political Parties - Who Makes Policy? - Local Pressure Groups - The Exercise of Influence - PART 3: FROM CHANGE TO POST-MODERNISATION - Two Decades of Management Change - The Future or A Future?.