ABSTRACT
The direction of local government leisure policies within the UK offers an interesting insight into current claims of seismic postmodern change. The growing influence of transnational economic processes on local policy decisions demands explanation. While some commentators have traced the political centralisation of the policy agenda under the direction of New Right ideology, others in contrast, continue to provide detailed maps setting out the autonomy and complexities of decision-making in local government. What is undeniable is that local government has witnessed substantial changes with diverse cultural, social, economic and political consequences. De-industrialised cities in the UK have been at the forefront of change, as documented by the work of Taylor et al. (1996) on the post-Fordist cities of Manchester and Sheffield.
