The reorganization addiction in local government: unitary councils for England

Structural reorganization of local government is an addictive habit to which British government ministers and civil servants are peculiarly prone. In the latest instance, several unitary authorities were created where two-tier systems existed previously. Interviews and documentary research carried out before and after the reorganization demonstrate that many of the supposed benefits of structural change have not materialized, and some local authorities are still recovering from the resulting disruption.