The chapter discusses the evolving nature of public policy-making and government at both central and local levels, highlighting increasing financial pressures, the struggle to maintain public services, new areas of concern like employment and economic development, and rising partisanship in local politics. The series "Public Policy and Politics," edited by Colin Fudge and Robin Hambleton, aims to provide comprehensive and authoritative analyses of public policy and politics, linking policy substance to the political process and bridging theory and practice. It emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches and covers governmental activity, central-local relations, public-private sector interactions, and the role of non-governmental agencies. The series includes published and forthcoming books that explore various aspects of public policy, such as government tools, housing policy, urban economic development, and local government finance. The chapter also provides an overview of the book "The Tools of Government" by Christopher C. Hood, which examines government as a set of tools or instruments used to address a wide range of tasks, with a focus on their application and implications.The chapter discusses the evolving nature of public policy-making and government at both central and local levels, highlighting increasing financial pressures, the struggle to maintain public services, new areas of concern like employment and economic development, and rising partisanship in local politics. The series "Public Policy and Politics," edited by Colin Fudge and Robin Hambleton, aims to provide comprehensive and authoritative analyses of public policy and politics, linking policy substance to the political process and bridging theory and practice. It emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches and covers governmental activity, central-local relations, public-private sector interactions, and the role of non-governmental agencies. The series includes published and forthcoming books that explore various aspects of public policy, such as government tools, housing policy, urban economic development, and local government finance. The chapter also provides an overview of the book "The Tools of Government" by Christopher C. Hood, which examines government as a set of tools or instruments used to address a wide range of tasks, with a focus on their application and implications.