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The Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) is a new framework which assesses how well local authorities are working together with other public service providers in England to meet the needs of the local people they serve. It came into effect in April 2009. The research purpose of this monograph comprises a threefold aim: it examines the question of whether CAA can be construed as a new performance measurement framework of joined-up working or whether CAA constitutes a new surveillance instrument of the central government over local authorities. It critically analyses the strengths and weaknesses of the CAA framework and shows the implications for local authorities. And finally, it assesses the potential of the CAA to evoke an incremental change within central-local relations in England. The monograph will be of interests to scholars and students of Political Science and Public Administration, to practitioners of politics, to performance managers in Public Sector, and to consultants.

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Manija Kamal studied Political Science,Law,Economics and Social History in Mainz and Jena (Germany) and Tsukuba (Japan) where she earned a first class M.A. (Magister Artium) degree. She obtained a first class Master degree in Public Administration from United Kingdom. She is pursuing an academic career as a doctoral candidate in Political Science.

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