WHO OR WHAT SETS THE AGENDA?

Based on a case study of the implementation of England's Local Public Service Agreements (LPSAs) - a funding stream which allowed local authorities to target approximately £1.5 billion at pressing social problems - this article considers the relative importance of internal and external forces on the agenda setting process. Our data suggests that despite the coincidence of events which put rural issues firmly on the media and public agendas in 2000-2003, in the low profile and arcane world of LPSAs, agenda setting was heavily influenced by the technical criteria negotiated between central and local government officials.