Centre for Local & Regional Government Research
Steve Martin
Director of CLRGR
The Centre for Local & Regional Government Research at Cardiff University
is recognised as a leading site for academically rigorous, policy relevant
research on public management and local government policy.
We are leading a multi-million pound programme of research on performance
improvement in local government. We are at the forefront of academic
debate and we have strong links to senior policy makers at the very highest
levels in the UK and internationally.
The Centre has raised in excess of £6 million in external research funding from the ESRC, central government and a range of other funding bodies. Over the last 6 years we have published more than 130 papers in peer reviewed academic journals and produced more than 50 official reports for Government departments and other agencies.
Members of the Centre are co-editors or members of the editorial boards of several leading academic journals including: 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. Members of the Centre also have eminent roles in academic organisations such as the Advanced Institute of Management, Economic and Social Research Council and the Public Management Research association.
In addition to academic conferences and journals, we contribute regularly to conferences, workshops and seminars for public service managers and leaders. Members of the Centre also serve as expert advisors to a range of organisations including the United Nations Expert Group on Public Sector Effectiveness, the National Trust, the Council of Europe, the Treasury, Department for Communities and Local Government, Electoral Commission, Audit Commission, Scottish Executive, Welsh Assembly Government and the Improvement and Development Agency.
The Centre's staff provide a range of leadership and development programmes. We lead the Cardiff MPA - a programme taught in 12 intensive three day sessions designed specifically to equip participants to meet the challenges of leading and managing in the civil service, health service, local government, police, fire and rescue services and the voluntary sector. We have also developed and teach Political and Organisational Leadership on the IDeA's Leadership Academy which attracts large numbers of executive and non-executive members from a wide range of local authorities from across England and Wales.
Further details of our research, teaching and other activities are accessible via the navigation bar.