Embracing social responsibilities through local leadership: Comparing the experience of the mayors of Bristol and Liverpool

Ismail, Nasrul

Abstract

This chapter analyses the extent to which the notion of social responsibility through leadership has been embraced by Bristol and Liverpool mayors, as the only elected mayors in England’s core cities, operationalised through the broad framing principles of accountability, integrity, dependability, and authenticity. At the macro level, whilst the Localism Act 2011 enables the mayors to deliver authentic solutions during times of austerity, there is no sense of real devolution of powers from Whitehall, calibrated by the risk-averse provisions under the Public Sector (Social Value) Act 2012. At the meso level, the discussion pivots around the transformation of mayoral relationships with non-state actors, from co-production of the public services to co-determination of the local decision-making. At the micro level, socially responsible leadership has been theorised from the citizens’ expectation viewpoint, such as paving the way, inspiring a shared vision, and challenging the status quo.

• Publication Date: Sep 30, 2017
• Deposit Date: Nov 3, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 30, 2019
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 85-100
• Book Title: Directly Elected Mayors in Urban Governance
• ISBN: 9781447327011
• Keywords: social responsibilities, leadership, mayors, Bristol, Liverpool
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/880451
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1332/policypress/9781447327011.001.0001
• Contract Date: Nov 3, 2017