Benjamin-Taylor-I-m-a-little-bit-sick-of-paradigm-shifts-Local-Government-Chronicle-LGC
In this opinion piece, Benjamin Taylor – chief executive of the Public Service Transformation Academy – argues that the current wave of ‘paradigm shift’ rhetoric in local government (insourcing, devolution, community‑led service design) is becoming a tired mantra that risks reproducing old problems in new guises. While he acknowledges the appeal of these narratives, he highlights three core points: (1) commissioning remains essential – perhaps more vital than ever – as the mediating layer between policy and delivery; (2) mediated democracy, where politicians and commissioners act as critical intermediaries, must be preserved; and (3) radical reformers are needed to expose systemic flaws, but without safeguards their ideas can devolve into new forms of centralisation or exclusion. Taylor critiques devolution for concentrating power in directly‑elected mayors, and warns that community‑led approaches can lead to dominance by a few, undermining genuine democratic negotiation. He calls for a pragmatic synthesis that retains expert mediation, democratic accountability, and adaptive commissioning, rather than swinging the pendulum between old and new extremes. The article also notes the echo‑chamber effect among reform networks, urging broader, more inclusive dialogue.
Topics
Paradigm Shift Fatigue: Overhyped Narratives and Their Pitfalls
A critique of the prevailing ‘insourcing’, ‘devolution’ and ‘community‑led’ paradigms dominating local‑government discourse.
Commissioning as the Essential Mediating Layer
Argument that commissioning – long‑term, whole‑system planning and collaboration – remains indispensable, even (or especially) in an era of insourcing and community design.
Devolution and Community: Centralisation Risks and Exclusion
Analysis of how devolution can concentrate power in mayors and how community‑led models can create dominance, exclusivity, and new forms of central control.
Towards a Pragmatic Synthesis: Balancing Expertise, Democracy, and Commissioning
A call for a blended approach that retains expert mediation, democratic accountability, and adaptive commissioning rather than swinging between extremes.
Echo‑Chamber of Reform Advocates
Observation that many reform networks (NLGN, Co‑operative Councils Innovation Network, PSTA, etc.) are speaking in unison, risking insular language and limited applicability.