Centre for Local and Regional Government Research (CLRGR)

The Centre for Local & Regional Government Research at Cardiff University is acknowledged internationally as a leading site for research on local government policy and public service improvement. It conducts rigorous, policy relevant research on the governance and management of local public services.  Its work focuses in particular on strategy; public service improvement; local partnership working; central-local relations; citizen engagement; and the regulation and accountability of public services.

Over the last decade the Centre has attracted almost £9 million in external research funding from research councils, charitable foundations, government departments, the European Union and a range of other agencies. Staff have strong links to senior policy makers in Wales, at UK level and further afield, and their research has had a significant impact on policy and practice. They also have an outstanding record of academic research output and have published more than 150 papers in peer reviewed journals, 50 official reports, and a co-authored book Public Service Improvement; Theories and Evidence published by Oxford University Press in 2010.

Members of the Centre serve as editors and/or members of the editorial boards of leading academic journals in the field including: the British Journal of Management, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, American Journal of Political Science, American Political Science Review, Administration and Society, Public Administration Review, Local Government Studies, and Public Money and Management. They have also held key positions in academic networks including the Advanced Institute of Management, Economic and Social Research Council and the Public Management Research Association.

Staff also serve in a range of high profile advisory roles with the United Nations, National Trust, Council of Europe, HM Treasury, Department for Communities and Local Government, Electoral Commission, Audit Commission, Scottish Executive, Welsh Assembly Government and the Improvement and Development Agency, and they are regularly asked to contribute to official review and enquiries.

The Centre contributes to a range of leadership and development programmes and leads Cardiff University's MPA, a programme which has been designed specifically to meet the needs of senior public service leaders working in the civil service, health service, local government, police, fire and rescue services and voluntary sector. Further details of its research, teaching and other activities can be accessed via the navigation bar.