LGIU (Local Government Information Unit)

Images of a carer and a refuse worker. Text says New Research - Service delivery in uncertain times. Insourcing, outsourcing and joint ventures in the era of local government reorganisation

🆕 📣 Just published our latest report - with strategic partner Norse Group - explores service delivery decisions in this era of LGR. What impact are the planned reforms already having? @joncarrwest.bsky.social
🔗 lgiu.org/publication/service...
#LocalGov #servicedelivery

Text advertising Advanced report writing training 10 July, 10:00-15:00, Online

LGIU Training this Tuesday. Spruce up your written reports with our advanced writing training for #localgov staff who write reports for committees and cabinets.
lgiu.org/civicrm/event/info/...

Text says: This Bill improves the process for devolution as it currently exists but the jury is still out on whether it enables a significant deepening of devolution which remains in our view the real prize.

Our response to the Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill ⬇️
lgiu.org/press-release/lgiu-...
#Localgov #Devolution #LGR

LGIU Training 🎓 Advanced Report Writing for committees and cabinet
Work in #LocalGov? Write reports? Our training will help you do it even better 🔥
🗓️ 15 July
🕙 10:00-15:00
📍Online
Find out more and book (25% discount for LGIU members)
lgiu.org/civicrm/event/info/...

Spending Review 2025: Towards a new model for subnational economic development - LGiU Outlines what Spending Review 2025 means for local and regional economic development in the UK and how to make the most of it

🆕 Briefing for LGIU members - SR25 signals a significant shift with more stable, long-term and increased funding for mayoral authorities and the GLA. What are the challenges for making it work? What are the implications for the rest of the UK?
#localgov
lgiu.org/briefing/spending-r...

LGIU Training 🎓 Advanced Report Writing for committees and cabinet
Work in #LocalGov? Write reports? Our training will help you do it even better 🔥
🗓️ 15 July
🕙 10:00-15:00
📍Online
Find out more and book (25% discount for LGIU members)
lgiu.org/civicrm/event/info/...

Working with councillors: developing political awareness Learn new skills and reflect on your experiences to build a more effective and productive working relationship.  

LGIU Training 🎓 Working with councillors: developing political awareness
This one's for #LocalGov staff - develop an effective and productive working relationship with elected members.
🗓️ 10 July
🕤 09:30-12:30
📍Online
More and book (LGIU members get 25% discount)
lgiu.org/civicrm/event/info/...

Putting data at the heart of Local Government Reorganisation - LGiU Anthony Roche, Chief Executive, North Hertfordshire District Council, explores his thoughts on the opportunities and challenges of local government reorganisation, and we can embed data strategies into the creation of new local authorities. 

Thoughts from Anthony Roche, CE of North Hertfordshire DC, on the opportunities offered by #localgov reorganisation to embed data strategies at the heart of the new unitaries and drive real data-led decision making from the start
#LGR
lgiu.org/blog-article/puttin...

Thanks to Richard Lloyd-Bithell @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social for a great interview. Interesting to hear about the council’s shift towards preventative spending to address long-term challenges.
#localgov
lgiu.org/blog-article/interv...

Local governance reform: what we know, the outstanding questions and where next? - LGiU What are the implications of recent announcements on local governance reform? In this briefing, LGIU’s Principal Researcher, Dr Greg Stride, breaks down the key information and questions.

The UK govt plans to abolish the committee system of local governance. This new member briefing 🔒 looks at this and other planned changes and assesses the direction of travel for #localgov
lgiu.org/briefing/local-gove...

Local government reorganisation explainer - Area Committees - LGiU How can local government reorganisation maintain the council’s unique local democratic role as a custodian of place and community? This briefing explores how Area Committees have been adopted by existing unitary councils, especially those that have recently reorganised, examines their functions, and highlights where they have been used most effectively.

📣 New explainer for LGIU members 🔒. Are area committees the best way to keep local government 'local' after #LGR? The government thinks so...
#localgov
lgiu.org/briefing/local-gove...

Local Government Finance Essentials (England) Get a thorough grounding in the key elements of local government finance and funding for officers and councillors.

LGIU Training 🎓 Local Government Finance Essentials (England)
We are here to demystify the world of #LocalGov finance for you.
🗓️ 17 July
🕤 09:30-12:30
📍Online
More and book (25% discount for LGIU members)
lgiu.org/civicrm/event/info/...

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council's award winning Autism Friendly Borough initiative - LGiU This article is part of our series covering the 2025 NILGA Award winners. In this case study, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council unpacks their Autism Friendly Borough initiative, which was awarded the Local Government Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award.

We love profiling the winners from the 2025 NILGA Awards. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council tell us about the Autism Friendly Borough initiative, which won them the Local Government Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award.
#LocalGov
lgiu.org/blog-article/mid-an...

Plymouth’s Evening and Night-time Economy Predatory Behaviour Disruption Partnership – A case study - LGiU Introduction Plymouth’s Evening and Night-time Economy Predatory Behaviour Disruption Partnership (“the Partnership”) is a partnership between Plymouth City Council and Devon and Cornwall Police, aiming to prevent Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in the Evening and Nighttime Economy (ENTE) and women involved in street-based sex work by using civil tools and powers as an […]

New case study on our website from Plymouth City Council about their partnership with Devon and Cornwall Police, aimed at preventing violence against women and girls in the nighttime economy
#LocalGov
lgiu.org/blog-article/153985-2/

LGIU Training 🎓 Advanced Report Writing for committees and cabinet
Work in #LocalGov? Write reports? Our training will help you do it even better 🔥
🗓️ 15 July
🕙 10:00-15:00
📍Online
Find out more and book (25% discount for LGIU members)
lgiu.org/civicrm/event/info/...

Working with councillors: developing political awareness Learn new skills and reflect on your experiences to build a more effective and productive working relationship.  

LGIU Training 🎓 Working with councillors: developing political awareness
This one's for #LocalGov staff - develop an effective and productive working relationship with elected members.
🗓️ 10 July
🕤 09:30-12:30
📍Online
More and book (LGIU members get 25% discount)
lgiu.org/civicrm/event/info/...

Local government reorganisation explainer - Area Committees - LGiU How can local government reorganisation maintain the council’s unique local democratic role as a custodian of place and community? This briefing explores how Area Committees have been adopted by existing unitary councils, especially those that have recently reorganised, examines their functions, and highlights where they have been used most effectively.

The government sees Neighbourhood Area Committees as the preferred method for community partnership working for the new unitary councils. This explainer for members 🔒 looks at how they have been deployed in past reorganisations.
#LocalGov
#LGR
lgiu.org/briefing/local-gove...

More than meets the eye: Peatland restoration in Ireland - LGiU This briefing explores the complex balance between restoring peatlands, respecting traditional land ties and practices, and addressing modern environmental needs. Providing an overview of the key legislative and policy landscape as well as examples of successful projects, it argues that holistic approaches offer great potential for sustainable and inclusive climate action. 

🆕 Briefing for members 🔒 explores peatland restoration in Ireland with examples of successful community, local government and state agency collaborative projects
#LocalGov
lgiu.org/briefing/more-than-...

Text says: ocal government finance is a complex system, and although updating the funding formulae will help alleviate pressures across many councils with the highest relative need, a more fundamental rethink will be needed before local government finance is resilient across the country and sufficiently flexible to allow councils to pursue their democratic mandates.

"Fair funding is one of a number of changes needed to put local government funding back on a sustainable footing. There are questions deferred on several of the most pressing issues facing #localgov. Our response to the Fair Funding Review 📣 lgiu.org/press-release/lgiu-...

Well done to all the shortlisted councils at the #MJAwards - and congratulations to the winners 👏 Great to see so many LGIU members among them 😀

What does a council transformation journey look like? LGIU CE @joncarrwest.bsky.social spoke to Cllr Eamonn O'Brien Leader of Bury Council about the council's vision for the future and drive create inclusive economic growth. Full interview 👉 lgiu.org/blog-article/interv...
#LocalGov

🌍 Are you going to Smart Cities World #CCAS25? We are! Because #LocalGov is pivotal to tackling urban climate challenges. If it's anything like last year, this summit will be brimming with innovation and ideas from pioneering local leaders ✨ www.smartcitiesworld.net/cit...
#LCAW2025

Looking forward to the new Housing Plan - LGiU The government has promised a new Housing Plan to replace, or perhaps simply update, Housing for All. In this briefing, we look at what we might expect to see in the plan and put forward some thoughts about what we would like to see.

🙋🏽 Hands up who's looking forward to a new housing plan from the Irish govt? 🏡 We are so we wrote a members' briefing on the prospect - what to expect, what we'd like to see...
lgiu.org/briefing/looking-fo...

Chairing skills for Councillors Improve how you chair online, hybrid and in-person meetings and learn easy-to-implement techniques to manage participation.

LGIU Training - Chairing skills for councillors
There will always be meetings, so make them better!
🗓️ 19 June
🕤 09:30-12:30
📍Online
Find out more and book. 25% discount for LGIU members #localgov
lgiu.org/civicrm/event/info/...

Text over images of Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer says: What does the Spending Review mean for local government?

🆕 Our on-the-day Spending Review briefing for LGIU members lgiu.org/briefing/spending-r...
#localgov

Text says: Delivery of every single one of the government’s missions needs robust and financially stable local government... once again, plans for how that will be achieved are left dangling just out of reach.

"Hard choices for the government in the face of tough financial circumstances - a position everyone in local government is used to. These decisions will have major implications for councils..." Our initial response to today's spending review lgiu.org/press-release/lgiu-...
#localgov

What is a shadow authority? - LGiU Introduction A lesser-remarked phase of local government reorganisation (LGR) is the transition period ahead of the creation of new councils. Understandably, the immediate focus is on scale, geographies, transformation and the creation of safe and legal councils on vesting day. However, looking at the recent operation of shadow authorities in English LGR, this article breaks […]

#localgov reorganisation will mean shadow authorities. These will undoubtedly set the tone for the new unitary that emerges from the transition - but what is a shadow authority and how does it work 🤔? Funny you should ask...! lgiu.org/blog-article/what-i...

How will English local government reorganisation affect place-shaping? - LGiU Local authorities have a vital role as place-shapers, while being democratic institutions giving voice to local people. This briefing looks at the implications of English local government reorganisation for place-shaping and community planning - and explores how new authorities can ensure strong community engagement and connection with the hyper-local level.

✨We have a new members' briefing 🔒 looking at what the new unitaries will mean for place shaping. How will they maintain and strengthen community participation and local democracy?
lgiu.org/briefing/how-will-e...

Nominations for the 2025 LGIU & CCLA Cllr Awards close at midnight! There are 5 categories and one simple online nomination form. Tell us about an amazing councillor today and celebrate their hard work and dedication! lgiu.org/events/cllr-awards/
#localgov
#CllrAwards

🎤 Great interview with last year's #CllrAwards Scotland Young Councillor of the Year, Katie Pragnall, talking about what led her into politics, the satisfaction that she gets from the role and words of wisdom for potential young councillors #localgov
🔗 lgiu.org/blog-article/interv...