Local Government, Sport and Recreation: Politics, Policy and Practice in an Age of Austerity

Local government has a crucial role to play in shaping the outputs and outcomes of the public policy process. In no area of policy is this more true than in sport, with local authorities central to the delivery of community sport projects and a vital agent in providing opportunities to participate and progress in sport-related activities. This is the first book to map, analyse and explain the function of local government in the formulation and implementation of sport policy.

Offering a critical account of sport policy processes, and drawing on theories of the state, central-local government relations and changing modes of local governance, the book explores a number of key themes, including:

• the changing role of local government in providing and delivering sport-related services
• the nature, extent and impact of localism and devolution on local authority sport policy
• equity in sport-related provision
• the future role and remit of local authority sport services.

Drawing on new empirical research and presenting a series of case-studies of unprecedented depth of sport policy in a number of major international cities, this book is essential reading for all advanced students, researchers and policy-makers with an interest in sport development, sport policy or local government.