Purpose: This thesis aims to explore the complex phenomenon of leadership at the apex of democratically elected local authority in England. It makes sense of the social construction of leadership as perceived and enacted by senior appointed officers (hereinafter officers), elected members (hereinafter members) and key stakeholders – the voices from the apex and their understandings and interpretations. Design/methodology/approach: The thesis examines leadership literature through the paradigm of constructivism-interpretivism, making sense of transcripts of the semi-structured interviews with officers, members and stakeholders engaged in local authority work. Dominant/mainstream theories of leadership offer limited help to understanding the relational, processual constructions of leadership and is critiqued. One way forward is to rethink conceptualisation of leadership in terms of the empirical evidence through interviews. This research has explored how leadership is situated, shared and occasioned, processed and deployed as narratives between officers and members. Findings: The constructivist-interpretivist findings of the research challenges the dominant essentialist hegemony of existing leadership theories, where heroic leaders and their skills and competencies can be replaced by less individualistic and more critical constructs through the four lenses which draw together in the fractal of leadership. This moving, forming and reforming, dynamic model highlights: i) the context in which leadership is situated and performs, ii) the shared and relational nature of leadership in interactions and continuous happenings, and the web of roles and relationships between powerful actors, which are perpetually evolving and contextualising, iii) the doing of leadership with its focus on interactive processes and practices, and iv) the narratives of leadership including the language games, the rhetoric, the metaphors and symbols which can challenge as well as reinforce the existing patterns of leadership as they emerge and mould and are moulded in diverse patterns. Research limitations/implications: Though the findings themselves cannot always be generalised to other contexts, the four frames of the fractal provide theoretical perspectives for studying leadership in other contexts. Originality/value: By challenging the dominating mainstream and public leadership theories, the four theme leadership framework allows for the incorporation of dynamic lenses to study the complex social phenomena of leadership. The analogy with a kaleidoscopic fractal enables a rich understanding of leadership rooted in a specific context yet with endless possibilities of leadership built from the permutations and combinations of the four themes. This thesis makes a theoretical and empirical contribution to the questions of the how, why and what of organisational leadership, both in a broad sense and in the specific context of the public sector and local authority in particular.

This project was a case study with a Local Authority (Charnwood Borough Council, Leicestershire) to research the options in response to the challenges of managing household waste. This research focused on establishing and analysing methods of improving the sustainability of household waste management operation within a Waste Collection Authority, where the interaction with a variety of external and internal stakeholders meant a holistic approach was needed. Waste management practices and performances in Charnwood were evaluated and benchmarked against national standards and the demography of a semi-rural Borough. Waste management practices nationally were also reviewed. The performance of the LA was quantitatively compared with other UK LAs where higher recycling performances are achieved. Differences were separate food waste collection and treatment; a larger proportion of urban housing and the university with a transient population. Other differences included strategy and operational practices for garden waste, the storage, collection, transportation and treatment of waste. A time series statistical model was modified and applied to investigate long term waste generation trends from the Boroughs official waste data returns to Defra. These were used to assess the success of interventions undertaken. This statistical model was able to differentiate interventions that were able to achieve lasting improvements in either waste minimisation or recycling. The declaration of a Zero Waste Strategy was to capture the public imagination. A series of focus groups and public consultations were held to judge public reaction and develop and refine the strategy. These were used to adapt the Zero Waste idea to suit the local conditions. A major conclusion was that householder involvement would be crucial for successful implementation of the further separation of waste that would be required.

Millions of children travel to and from school each day as part of their daily routine. A large percentage of children make this journey by car, and the numbers are steadily rising and this is leading to many environmental and health implications for children. The current economic climate has persuaded the British Government to look again at policies relating to all school travel funding to highlight areas where savings and cuts can be made. This is interesting because the home-to-school transport provision policy has been in place since the Education Act 1944 and this policy costs local authorities in England over £1 billion a year. Therefore, the focus of this thesis is threefold. Firstly, it seeks to determine the main issues within school travel and reports on the views of current professionals in the school travel industry. Structured in-depth interviews were carried out with 16 UK and US school travel experts. The questions focused on the current stakeholders of school travel, issues regarding school travel, bus use in school travel, and the challenges faced by transport planners to ensure school pupils have a safe and pleasant journey to school. Secondly this thesis quantifies the traffic and environmental impacts of the school choice policy in England. It achieves this by analysing School Census data from 2009 from the Department for Education. Multinomial logit modelling and mixed multinomial logit modelling are used to illustrate the current travel behaviour of English children in their journey to school and examine how there can be a significant reduction in vehicle miles travelled, CO2 emissions and fuel consumption if the school choice policy is removed. The results suggest that if all children attended their nearest school, this would result in reductions in their personal mobility, vehicle miles travelled and CO2 emissions. Finally, this thesis examines the policies relating to the funding criteria of home-to-school public school transport provision. Specifically, the paper employs a multilevel modelling technique to develop a series of relationships between bus usage by school and the level of spending by local education authorities on home-to-school bus travel provision while controlling for other factors such as school quality, land-use patterns and various proxies for household incomes. The results suggest that there is a significant effect of funding on the total school-level bus passenger mileage for primary (aged less than 11), secondary (aged 11 to 16) and Post 16 schools.

This study investigates the impact of various ‘gifted and talented’ initiatives, brought in by successive governments in the UK since 1999. The research employs the Case Study method in an inner-city London primary school. Data gathered from semi-structured interviews with teachers, teaching assistants, pupils, parents and senior managers was analysed, using a thematic method. Documents including the School Development Plan, Ofsted reports and internal policies were also analysed, as well as lesson observations. A literature review encompassing both the history of ‘gifted and talented’ policy development and research on identifying and providing for ‘gifted and talented’ pupils revealed a notable lack of empirical research evidence as a basis for the policies. The emphasis on identifying ‘gifted and talented’ pupils in the policies, with less guidance about provision, possibly led practitioners to unfruitful and inaccurate directions. The research was contextualised by a review of the role of the Local Authority, in which the school was located, in implementing ‘gifted and talented’ policies. The importance of this diminishing role was confirmed. The challenge now is how to disseminate future initiatives, with no clear way to communicate with school leaders. The subsequent Case Study identified the strengths of the policies as raising awareness of the needs of this group of pupils, as well as finding a need for more professional development for teachers, which is unlikely to be met, since the policy was disbanded in 2011. Other findings showed that, whilst teachers have become more accepting of ‘gifted and talented’ policy, the lack of guidance about provision led to them using self-theories and professional experience to ensure ‘gifted and talented’ pupils have opportunities for challenge, with mixed success. More information, based on evidence-based research, needs to be made available to teachers to ensure they can provide effectively for this group of learners.

A cidade de Osasco, que faz parte da Região da Grande São Paulo, possui uma superfície de 64,94 Km², uma população absoluta de 701.012 habitantes e 478.190 eleitores (IBGE, 2007). A origem da cidade de Osasco deve-se realmente a um italiano de nome Antônio Giuseppe di Pietro Agu, funcionáriol da Estrada de Ferro Sorocabana, que em 1893 comprou uma gleba de terra compreendida entre os córregos Bussocaba e Aguadinha, e tornou-se fornecedor da Estrada de Ferro Sorocabana, à qual vendia areia, telhas e tijolos. É cortada no sentido leste oeste pelo rio Tietê, cujo vale foi aproveitado para construir o traçado da Estrada de Ferro Sorocabana, responsável pelo nascimento da nossa cidade. A localização de Osasco, próxima à capital, mais as facilidades apresentadas por ser servida pela ferrovia, contribuíram para o desenvolvimento da região, pois esses fatores atraíram para cá grande número de empresários e trabalhadores, incentivando o progresso e o desenvolvimento. A cidade de Osasco se torna, cada vez mais, um espaço que se organiza para abrigar as grandes empresas, isso reduz os recursos públicos possíveis de serem destinaddos à população, agravando a crise social. Costuma-se considerar no Brasil a existência de dois principais tipos de poder local: o tradicional (coronelismo) e o moderno (dinâmica de lutas, com a participação da sociedade civil). O caso de Osasco, hoje, é o de um poder local moderno e complexo. O poder local, com os seus instrumentos básicos, que são a participação comunitária e o planejamento descentralizado, constitui, nesse sentido, um mecanismo de ordenamento político e econômico que já deu provas de eficiência nos países desenvolvidos. Ele é sem dúvida o grande recurso subutilizado na nossa cidade. / Osasco city, a part of São Paulo capital area, has a surface area of 64,94 km², a population of 701.012 habitants and 478.190 of people eligible to vote (according IBGE, 2007 ) The origin of the city is due to Italian named Antônio Giuseppe di Pietro Agú, a Sorocabna Railway employee, who in 1893 bought a an area of land between two small rivers , Bussocaba and Aguadinha. Some years later Antônio Agú became supplier of Sorocabana Railway, selling sand, brick and tile. Osasco is cut in east to west way by Tiete river, the valley formed by the river was used to draw the Sorocabana railway which is responsible by Osasco creation. Osasco fast development is due to facilities like São Paulo (state capital) proximity and the railway which made easier the population flow. The city becomes, each time more, a space that organize itself to receive big companies that fact reduces drastically possible public resources to be offered for community as a result the social crises is getting worse. Its a usual concern in Brazil the existence of 2 main types of local authority: the traditional (called coronelismo) and the modern (fights dynamic with civil society participation). Nowadays Osascos case is local modern and complex power. The local authority with all of basic instruments, which are community participation and an fragmented power , has been constituting in that sense for a mechanism of economical and political ordinance that already gave proves of efficiency in developed countries. Its no doubt a huge resource underused in Osasco city.

L'idée de la décentralisation administrative n'est pas nouvelle dans les Etats du Moyen Orient mais sa consécration, tout au long des années, est restée modeste.L'étude comparative de l'organisation administrative en Jordanie, au Liban et en Syrie se place à un double niveau, structurel (déconcentralisation et décentralisation) et fonctionnel. Elle se fondera donc sur un plan d'observations organisées à trois dimensions qui offre la possibilité d'une évaluation des trois expériences en recourant aux mêmes critères.Dans la structuration actuelle de l'organisation administrative territoriale, force a été de constater que le pouvoir exécutif occupe une place très prééminente dans le système politico-administratif. L'extension des circonscriptions administratives déconcentrées sur lesquelles le pouvoir central exerce le contrôle hiérarchique au détriment des collectivités locales est, à ce titre, significative. Les recherches menées sur l'organisation des structures administratives déconcentrées au Moyen Orient, ont confirmé que l'unité du modèle ottoman hérité de l'histoire a, pour l'essentiel, éclaté.S'agissant des échelons des unités décentralisées dans les trois Etats étudiés, la municipalité est le seul dénominateur commun entre les collectivités locales depuis l'époque ottomane. Mais, facteur de différenciation, elle est la seule strate décentralisée au Liban et en Jordanie. En Syrie, outre la municipalité, trois autres niveaux de collectivités locales décentralisées se superposent ou se juxtaposent : la Mohafaza à la fois une circonscription administrative de l'Etat et collectivité locale, la ville et la Balda. Pour autant, il n'est pas certain que le nombre d'échelons décentralisés (soit unité soit pluralité) soit facteur de réussite ou vecteur d'efficacité dans la réalisation attendue des missions dévolues.Le poids de l'autorité centrale dans la création et le fonctionnement des collectivités locales influe sur la relation entre la structure locale et ses habitants. Tout changement brusque des structures administratives locales, sans prendre en compte la volonté des citoyens locaux, aboutit à une rupture ou à un déséquilibre entre la structure locale établie et les besoins réels des habitants.L'analyse du degré d'efficacité dans le fonctionnement des collectivités locales révèle que la présence des éléments nécessaires à l'identification d'un régime décentralisateur est insuffisante. Ce régime dans les Etats du Moyen Orient peut donc être qualifié de « semi-décentralisation » ou d'une décentralisation inaboutie entre autonomie et contrôle. / The idea of administrative decentralization is not new in the states of the Middle East but his consecration, throughout the years, remained modest.The comparative study of the administrative organization in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria stands at two levels, structural (déconcentralisation and decentralization) and functional. It's based on a plan of observations held in three dimensions that offers the possibility of an evaluation of three experiments using the same criteria.In the current structure of the territorial administrative organization, it was clear that the executive Authority a very prominent place in the political-administrative system. The extension of decentralized administrative units on which the central government apply hierarchical control at the expense of local authorities is, as such, significant. Research on the organization of decentralized administrative structures in the Middle East, confirmed that the unity of the Ottoman model inherited from the history, essentially erupted..Regarding levels of decentralized units in the three states studied, the municipality is the only common denominator between local units since Ottoman times. But the differentiating ingredient, it is the only decentralized stratum in Lebanon and Jordan. In Syria, in addition to the municipality, three other levels of decentralized local units are juxtaposed or superimposed: the Mohafaza in the same time is administrative district of the state and local unit, the city and Balda. However, it is not certain that the number of decentralized levels (either unit or plurality) either to success or effectiveness in achieving expected Target of assigned missions.The Status of the central authority in the establishment and operation of local units influences the relationship between the local structure and its inhabitants. Any sudden change in local administrative structures, without taking into account the willingness of local citizens, leads to a breakdown or an imbalance between the local structure established and the real needs of the inhabitants.The analysis of the degree of efficiency in the functioning of local units shows that the presence of the elements necessary for the identification of a decentralizing system is insufficient. This regime in the Middle East states can be described as "semi-decentralized" or uncompleted decentralization between autonomy and control.

A cidade de Osasco, que faz parte da Região da Grande São Paulo, possui uma superfície de 64,94 Km², uma população absoluta de 701.012 habitantes e 478.190 eleitores (IBGE, 2007). A origem da cidade de Osasco deve-se realmente a um italiano de nome Antônio Giuseppe di Pietro Agu, funcionáriol da Estrada de Ferro Sorocabana, que em 1893 comprou uma gleba de terra compreendida entre os córregos Bussocaba e Aguadinha, e tornou-se fornecedor da Estrada de Ferro Sorocabana, à qual vendia areia, telhas e tijolos. É cortada no sentido leste oeste pelo rio Tietê, cujo vale foi aproveitado para construir o traçado da Estrada de Ferro Sorocabana, responsável pelo nascimento da nossa cidade. A localização de Osasco, próxima à capital, mais as facilidades apresentadas por ser servida pela ferrovia, contribuíram para o desenvolvimento da região, pois esses fatores atraíram para cá grande número de empresários e trabalhadores, incentivando o progresso e o desenvolvimento. A cidade de Osasco se torna, cada vez mais, um espaço que se organiza para abrigar as grandes empresas, isso reduz os recursos públicos possíveis de serem destinaddos à população, agravando a crise social. Costuma-se considerar no Brasil a existência de dois principais tipos de poder local: o tradicional (coronelismo) e o moderno (dinâmica de lutas, com a participação da sociedade civil). O caso de Osasco, hoje, é o de um poder local moderno e complexo. O poder local, com os seus instrumentos básicos, que são a participação comunitária e o planejamento descentralizado, constitui, nesse sentido, um mecanismo de ordenamento político e econômico que já deu provas de eficiência nos países desenvolvidos. Ele é sem dúvida o grande recurso subutilizado na nossa cidade. / Osasco city, a part of São Paulo capital area, has a surface area of 64,94 km², a population of 701.012 habitants and 478.190 of people eligible to vote (according IBGE, 2007 ) The origin of the city is due to Italian named Antônio Giuseppe di Pietro Agú, a Sorocabna Railway employee, who in 1893 bought a an area of land between two small rivers , Bussocaba and Aguadinha. Some years later Antônio Agú became supplier of Sorocabana Railway, selling sand, brick and tile. Osasco is cut in east to west way by Tiete river, the valley formed by the river was used to draw the Sorocabana railway which is responsible by Osasco creation. Osasco fast development is due to facilities like São Paulo (state capital) proximity and the railway which made easier the population flow. The city becomes, each time more, a space that organize itself to receive big companies that fact reduces drastically possible public resources to be offered for community as a result the social crises is getting worse. Its a usual concern in Brazil the existence of 2 main types of local authority: the traditional (called coronelismo) and the modern (fights dynamic with civil society participation). Nowadays Osascos case is local modern and complex power. The local authority with all of basic instruments, which are community participation and an fragmented power , has been constituting in that sense for a mechanism of economical and political ordinance that already gave proves of efficiency in developed countries. Its no doubt a huge resource underused in Osasco city.

<p>This essay inquires with the local authority´s rights versus obligations towards its members in agreement situations, where according to civil law compete with the according to public law.These situations become more and more common, since the public is often integrated in today´s trade and industery. Within this analyses there are statements made by HD about what is the applicable judgement concerning this complex area. HD´s different views and opinions have partly been critizesed by the auther.</p>

This essay inquires with the local authority´s rights versus obligations towards its members in agreement situations, where according to civil law compete with the according to public law.These situations become more and more common, since the public is often integrated in today´s trade and industery. Within this analyses there are statements made by HD about what is the applicable judgement concerning this complex area. HD´s different views and opinions have partly been critizesed by the auther.

Primary health care represents a change from curative approach to preventive approach to rendering health care services. The study analyses the problems encountered in the administration of primary health care in South Africa with specific reference to the Emfuleni Local Authority. The study describes the role of international institutions in the administration of primary health care in South Africa. Furthermore, the historical development, the role of the National Department of Health in the administration of primary health care services is outlined. The study also investigates the role of the Gauteng Provincial Department of Health regarding the implementation of district health system, health promotion, the involvement of the private sector and NGO's in primary health care. Problems encountered by the Emfuleni Local Authority such as lack finance, personnel shartages, security, urbanisation, non-involvement of traditional healers and citizen apathy are investigated. Lastly, governmental relations for primary health care are described.