Local State-Society Relations in England

The chapter explores the complex networks of local state-society relationships in England. After providing necessary contextual background the chapter explores local state-society relationships by examining: Local Action Groups (LAGs) established under the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of and which are also part of the European network for rural development; and, the 38 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) across England, formed by central government to shape relationships between local government, private business and voluntary groups in fostering economic development with their areas. The chapter elaborates the diversity of structure, practice and legal requirement shaping local state-society relationships which produce numerous patterns of interaction and activity and discusses this as a commonplace feature of the environment within which English local government operates.