What is local government for? How can the answer to that question determine the financing of public services? These are the issues that Sarah Teather addresses in her article "Function before Form."

She proposes a model for establishing 'transferable criteria for devolution' against which clear responsibilities for the running of public services can be attributed to either a local or national executives.

Having identified the areas she believes would be more efficiently managed at a local level, she goes on to explain the potential benefits of such devolution, principally because small organisations can offer more flexibility and innovation. She also addresses concerns about attracting the right quality of people to work in local government to ensure the effective administration of these policies. She concludes that if the jobs are real jobs, they will attract the most qualified people to ensure their success.