Stephen Hughes suggests the solution to improving public services lies in an expansion of democratic accountability at local level

A time of unprecedented fiscal pressure is also a time of unprecedented testing of different ways of delivering public services.

One of the models that has been pressed into service is competition between public service agencies.

While not new as an idea, it has come to prominence in approaches to schools, NHS trusts and in other areas as well. At a simple level the idea is that if a traditional state monopoly approach to service delivery has failed, introducing the success of private sector competition may drive up quality, customer service and outcomes.