Nine out of ten local councils have applied for Beacon Status since its inception in 1999. Applications for the 2007-08 Beacon scheme have now closed and the Improvement and Development Agency says they include many shining examples of best practice.

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MANCHESTER LEADS WAY WITH GREEN PARKING SCHEME

From today drivers of environmentally friendly vehicles will get discounts on parking fees in Manchester under an agreement between the City Council and NCP Manchester. The Green Badge Parking scheme is the first in the country.

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This paper explores the impact of different forms of political leadership created through the Local Government Act 2000. The concept of facilitative leadership is used to explore how leaders use powers and abilities to draw citizens and other stakeholders into a shared vision for the locality, and enable local councils and other actors to shape places and improve service performance. The paper also reflects on possible implications for proposals in the 2006 Local Government White Paper.Key points from the paper include the emergence of facilitative leaders who use powers and abilities to draw citizens and other stakeholders into a shared vision for the locality, which draws on their aspirations, and enables the capacity of local councils and other actors to ‘place shape’ and improve service performance.

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