Abstract
This report, which was published just before the 2010 General Election that swept New Labour from power, set out the government’s ambition for “a new direction for local public services, based on extensive work over the last year by central government, local authorities and their partners.” The measures set out in this document built on the complementary reforms set out in Putting the Frontline First: Smarter Government and were intended to present a set of commitments that would give greater freedom and flexibility to support a new relationship between government and places.