Samenvatting

Various implementation studies examine the way in which control is exercised on policy implementers and the conditions that guarantee successful policy implementation, but these studies do not explicitly address the control function within government organizations. The controller can best be described as a liaison officer who passes on information to other actors and thus fulfils not only a controlling role, but also a facilitating role. The central question in this study is what influence the control function has on the implementation of subsidy policy at Dutch municipalities. To this end, two case studies have been carried out at two Dutch municipalities that have adopted identical subsidy regulations. The first municipality has set up a control function for the process of granting subsidies; the second municipality has not. Not only does it appear that the implementation at the first municipality is more in line with the subsidy regulation; even if the evaluation is placed in a broader perspective, the implementation in this municipality is progressing more satisfactorily. In this way, democratic control in this municipality is guaranteed more effectively and potential subsidy applicants find their way to this municipality more easily. The study also shows that the implementation of the control function leads to less demand on official capacity.