A ‘panoptical’ or ‘synoptical’ approach to monitoring performance? Local public services in England and the widening accountability gap

Eckersley, Peter and Ferry, Laurence and Zakaria, Zamzulaila (2014) A ‘panoptical’ or ‘synoptical’ approach to monitoring performance? Local public services in England and the widening accountability gap. Critical Perspectives on Accounting, 25 (6). pp. 529-538. ISSN 1045-2354 E-ISSN 1095-9955

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Abstract

This article highlights how recent reforms to the auditing and assessment of local public services in England suggest there will be a shift from panoptical to ‘synoptical’ monitoring approaches. This is because the UK Government has abolished its centralised monitoring regime and instead required local authorities to publish a range of financial and performance datasets online, ostensibly so that citizens can hold organisations to account directly. However, the complexity and raw nature of these data, along with the sidelining of professional auditors, will result in most citizens being either unable or unwilling to undertake this task. As such, the proposed ‘synoptical’ approach will not materialise.Indeed, other legislative changes will mean that outsourcing firms effectively become the new, unaccountable observers of local public sector bodies within an enduring panoptical system. In many cases these companies will then assume responsibility for delivering the same services that they have assessed.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Additional Information:	5122/38859
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Critical; Accountability; Public sector; New public management; Local public services; Local public services
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HJ Public Finance > HJ7451 Expenditures. Government spending
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences > Department of Accounting
Depositing User:	Dr Zamzulaila Zakaria
Date Deposited:	23 Oct 2014 11:02
Last Modified:	22 Aug 2017 08:55
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/38859

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