Dr James Downe

Teaching profile

He has taught a range of undergraduate modules in political science and research methodology. Before joining Cardiff Business School, he was Academic Director of a Postgraduate Diploma in Local Government Management and taught students on the Warwick MPA. James is currently the co-facilitator of the ‘Political and Organisational Leadership’ module on the IDeA Leadership Academy (a high profile training course for senior councillors in local government

Research interests

Assessing the impact and effectiveness of the ethical framework for local government in England
(funded by The Standards Board for England)

Learning to Improve: An Independent Assessment of Assembly Government Policy for Local Government (funded by the Welsh Assembly Government)

Meta-evaluation of the Local Government Modernisation Agenda funded by CLG.

An ESRC project called ‘Comparing for Improvement: The Development and Impact of Public Services Audit and Inspection in UK Local Government’ which is part of the Public Services programme

Recently Completed Research
The Impact of External Inspection on Local Government (funded by JRF)

Local Political Leadership in England and Wales (funded by the JRF)

Civic Education in Local Government (funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister)

Evaluation of the Six Commitments initiative (funded by the Local Government Association)

An Assessment of the WLGA’s Proposals for Excellence Wales (funded by the Welsh Local Government Association)

Selected publications

Recent Publications
Refereed Papers:

Downe, J.D., Grace, C.L., Nutley, S.N. and Martin, S.J. (2010) Theories of public service improvement: A comparative analysis of local performance assessment frameworks Public Management Review. Forthcoming.

Andrews, R., Cowell, C. and Downe, J. (2010) Promoting Civic Culture by Supporting Citizenship – what difference can local government make? Public Administration. Forthcoming.

Martin, S.J., Downe, J.D., Grace, C.L. and Nutley, S.N. (2010) Evaluating Organizational Effectiveness: The Utilization and Validity of Whole Authority Assessments, Evaluation 16:1

Andrews, R., Cowell, C., Downe, J., Martin, S. and Turner, D. (2008) Supporting Effective Citizenship in Local Government: Engaging, Educating and Empowering Local Citizens, Local Government Studies 34:4 pp. 489 - 507.

Andrews, R. Cowell, C. and Downe, J. (2008) Support for Active Citizenship and Public Service Performance: An Empirical Analysis of English Local Authorities, Policy & Politics 36:2 pp.
225-243.

Downe, J. Grace, C. Martin, S. and Nutley, S. (2008) Best Value Audits in Scotland: Winning Without Scoring?, Public Money & Management April 28:2 pp. 77-84.

Nominated for the 2009 UK Public Administration Consortium prize which rewards advances in
conceptsand the practice of public administration.
Nominated for the IFAC Professional Accountants in Business Committee Articles of merit award for distinguished contributions to supporting professional accountants in business.
Downe, J. and Martin, S.J. (2008) Evaluating the Local Government Modernisation Agenda: impacts,
obstacles and outcomes, Local Government Studies 34:1 pp. 105-107.

Hartley, J. and Downe, J. (2007) The Shining Lights? Public service awards as an approach to service improvement, Public Administration 85:2 pp. 329-353.

Downe, J. and Martin, S.J. (2007)Regulation inside government: processes and impacts of inspection of local public services, Policy and Politics 35:2 pp. 215-232.

Downe, J. and Martin, S.J. (2007) Inspecting for improvement? Emerging patterns of public service regulation in the UK, Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy 25:3 pp. 410-422.

Sullivan, H. Downe, J. Entwistle, T. Sweeting, D. (2006) The Three Challenges of Community Leadership, Local Government Studies 32:4

Downe, J. and Martin, S.J. (2006) Joined up policy in practice? The coherence and impacts of the local government modernisation agenda, Local Government Studies 32:4

Bovaird, T. and Downe, J. (2006) N generations of reform: a loosely-coupled armada or ships that pass in the night? International Journal of Public Sector Management

Entwistle, T. and Downe, J. (2005) Picking Winners to Define and Disseminate Best Practice. Public Policy & Administration 20:4

Rashman, L. Downe, J. and Hartley, J. (2005) Knowledge creation and transfer in the Beacon Scheme: Improving services through sharing good practice. Local Government Studies 31:5 pp 683 -700

Downe, J. Rashman, L. and Hartley, J. (2004) Evaluating the extent of inter-organisational learning and change through the Beacon Council Scheme. Public Management Review 6:4 pp 531-553

Rallings, C. Thrasher, M. Johnston, R. and Downe, J. (2004) Redistricting Local Governments in England: Rules, Procedures and Electoral Outcomes. State Politics and Policy Quarterly 4:4 pp 470-490

Downe, J. and Martin, S.J. (2004) Inspecting for Improvement? Emerging Patterns of Public Service Regulation in the UK in Jenei, G. McLaughlin, K. Mike, K. and Osborne, S. (eds.) Challenges of Public Management Reforms: Theoretical Perspectives and Recommendations Budapest: IRSPM-BUESPA pp 48-71 ISBN 963-503-328-1

Commissioned Reports
Leach, S. Hartley, J. Lowndes, V. Wilson, D. Downe, J. (2005) Local Political Leadership in England and Wales. Joseph Rowntree Foundation: York ISBN 1-85935-365-7

Leach, S. Lowndes, V. Cowell, R. and Downe, J. (2005) Progress Report on Stakeholder Engagement with Local Government. ODPM: London

Cowell, R. Downe, J. Leach, S. and Bovaird, T. (2005) Progress report on Public Confidence in Local Government. ODPM: London

Andrews, A. Cowell, R. Downe, J. Martin, S.J. and Turner, T. (2005) Supporting Citizenship and Local Democracy: The Role of Local Government. ODPM: London

Andrews, A. Cowell, R. Downe, J. Martin, S.J. and Turner, T. (2005) Promoting Citizenship and Local Democracy: The role of local government. ODPM: London

Downe, J. (2004) Long-term meta-evaluation of the Local Government Modernisation Agenda: Data Audit. ODPM: London

Davis, H. Downe, J. Martin, S.J. (2004) The Changing Role of Audit Commission inspection of Local Government? Joseph Rowntree Foundation: York ISBN 1-85935-238-3

Entwistle, T. Downe, J. Martin, S.J. (2004) An assessment of the WLGA’s proposals for Excellence Wales. Report to the Welsh Local Government Association

Davis, H. Downe, J. Aulakh, S. Whiteman, P. and Lyons, M. (2003) Six of the Best. An Evaluation of the LGA’s Six Commitments. Local Government Association: London ISBN 1-84049-356-9

Downe, J. (2002) Good practice in electoral registration and turnout in local elections. Local Government Centre Research Paper 41. ISSN 1-874246-44-0

Downe, J. Storbeck, J. Rashman, L, and Hartley, J. (2002) Determining whether the best local authorities apply to become Beacon Councils. Report to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM).

Downe, J. Rashman, L. and Hartley J. (2002) Why local authorities do or do not apply to become Beacon Councils. Report to ODPM.

Downe, J. and Hartley, J. (2002) Research into Beacon Council Scheme Applications: Identifying trends in applications and in selection. Report to ODPM.

Rashman, L. Downe, J. Hartley, J. Storbeck, J. (2002) Whether local authorities do or do not apply to become Beacon Councils: The experience of District Councils. Report to ODPM.

Martin, S.J. Davis, H. Bovaird, T. Downe, J. Geddes, M. Hartley, J. Lewis, M. Sanderson, I. Sapwell, P. (2001) Improving Local Public Services: Final Report of the Best Value Pilot Programme. DETR: London

Davis, H. Downe, J. Martin, S.J. (2001) The Impact of External Inspection on Local Government – Delivering Improvement or Drowning in Detail? Joseph Rowntree Foundation: York

Hartley, J. Rashman, L. Storbeck, J. and Downe, J. (2001) Researching Beacon Councils - Evaluation, activities and outputs. Report to DETR and IDeA

Hartley, J. Rashman, L. Downe, J. and Storbeck, J. (2001) Monitoring and Evaluation of the Beacon Council Scheme – Report of the Process Outcomes Evaluation. Report to DETR and IDeA

Downe, J. Rashman, L. Hartley, J. (2001) The extent of learning and change in local authorities. Report to DTLR and IDeA.

Rallings, C. Thrasher, M. Downe, J. (2000) Turnout at Local Government Elections: Influences on levels of voter registration and electoral participation. DETR: London

Rallings, C. Thrasher, M. Downe, J. (1996) Enhancing local electoral turnout: A guide to current practice and future reform. Joseph Rowntree Foundation: York.

Activities

James has recently presented papers at the International Research Society for Public Management (IRSPM) in Brisbane, Australia (2008), the Academy of Management, Hawaii, USA (2005), IRSPM in Milan (2005) and the Employment Research Unit Annual Conference, Cardiff (2005). In the more distant past, he has presented papers at IRSPM in Budapest (2004), Edinburgh (2002) and the Academy of Management in Denver, USA (2002).