Part 1 The agenda of change: community charge and other financial changes, Tony Travers; competition and service in local government, Kieron Walsh; education reform - consumer democracy or social democracy, Stewart Ranson and Hywel Thomas; local government and the Housing Reforms, Kenneth M.Spencer; strengthening local democracy? - the government's response to Widdicombe, Steve Leach; inner cities, economic development and social services - the government's continuing agenda, Gerry Stoker. Part 2 What future?: creating a local government for a post-Fordist society - the Thatcherite project?, Gerry Stoker; the changing organization and management of local authorities, John Stewart; the new right, the new left and local government, Desmond S.King; Thatcherism and local government - an evaluation, Graham Mather; a future for local authorities as community government, John Stewart.