Mapping the Ethics Network in English Local Government

Abstract

This paper seeks to conceptualise ethics leadership in English local government. It will demonstrate that there are a number of stakeholders within the ethical framework for English local government, all of whom have a potential leadership role to play. It will further argue that traditional models of ethical leadership do not fully encompass this diversity of leadership sources, which can be better addressed through a framework of collective decision making and collaborative action. In so doing, the paper will draw together ethical leadership with other strands of public management leadership theory. After defining the concept of ethical leadership, the paper will map out the ethics network in local government and will categorise stakeholders into different groups. The ethics map will then be discussed in terms of relational leadership and communities of practice. It concludes by offering strategies for future research.