Implementing holistic government

David Wilkinson is a partner in the consultancy network, Whole System Development and is based in Keighley, West Yorkshire Elaine Appelbee is the Bishop of Bradford’s Officer for church in society

• Contents: Setting the context; The functional inheritance and its consequences; The public service, community interface; Change that works - sustaining community and quality of life improvement; Change that works - sustaining organisational and whole system change; Developing the middle ground: where bottom-up meets top-down (a third way for local governance?); Improving sustainable quality of life: the benchmark for Best Value; Joined-up action on the ground: six key issues that have to be addressed; Working in the middle ground: recommendations to promote joined-up action on the ground.

"This is a remarkable book - powerful, insightful and practical. If we follow the advice offered ... we will be closer to making a reality of joined-up action on the ground." Ken Jarrold, CBE, County Durham Health Authority "After all the rhetoric here is a real breakthrough in how to reconnect local government and its partner agencies with citizens and communities." Nicky Gavron, Local Government Association Planning Committee "Makes a valuable contribution to the discussion about holistic government and how it can be developed at local level." Judith Hunt "Whitehall and town hall policy makers should read this book." Sue Richards