In February of this year NLGN set out a compelling new vision for public services in The Community Paradigm The report argued that for a preventative approach to public service […]

8th July, 2019


Two weeks ago, after months of hard work, we opened the doors to a brand-new cultural hub in the centre of Wigan. The hub is situated in one of our […]

30th May, 2019


The plight of children’s services is a well-documented one, and it is in some ways a relief to see that organisations such as the Local Government Association are now listing […]

1st May, 2019


“All adults should always do what is best for you.” – Article 3 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, child-friendly version (1989) On the thirtieth anniversary […]

28th April, 2019


Nationalise or privatise? That has been a classic dividing line for politicians ever since Margaret Thatcher made the latter a core part of her platform in the 1980s. And even […]

27th March, 2019


Created in 2012 following riots in our inner cities, the Government’s Troubled Families Programme has received praise and criticism in equal measure over the last seven years. Created by the […]

19th March, 2019


“Thanks for this short bright moment in a very gloomy world” – Silver Sunday guest Last week when I opened the NLGN Annual Conference, I cited “Silver Sunday” as an […]

15th March, 2019


Exploring how councils are working to tackle loneliness.

14th March, 2019


‘@adamjlent Two things make Big Picture schools fundamentally different from conventional schools. One is the extent to which students are able to shape their own curriculum and learning journey. The […]

27th February, 2019


A new approach to public services is gradually emerging on the front-line. Many innovations coming from local government, the health sector, education and social enterprises are flourishing independently of each […]

25th February, 2019


While the Westminster Bubble obsesses over the daily drama of haggling and brinksmanship over the shape of EU withdrawal, the NLGN Leadership Index reveals new insight into what is actually […]

29th January, 2019



Insight into how to upskill the workforce in your area and building effective partnerships with the business community.

20th January, 2019


This article first appeared on the Local Government Chronicle website on 7th January 2019. It is generally accepted that doctors should avoid diagnosing their own illnesses and prescribing their own […]

8th January, 2019


Exploring the development of partnerships between local authorities and social investors.

18th December, 2018


Developing deeper relationships with your residents and moving from a transactional relationship to a collaborative one.

20th October, 2018


Exploring the work of local government around local renewable energy generation.

18th October, 2018


On 18 July 2018, NLGN partnered with FutureGov to host our latest Innovation Exchange at their offices in London. All of our Innovation Exchanges produce a detailed Insights Report available […]

12th October, 2018


With financial resources likely to be under pressure for the foreseeable future, councils will increasingly need to become a supporter and enabler of communities ready to solve their own problems. […]

20th September, 2018


The relationship between councils and communities is shifting. The traditional role of the council as primarily a “service deliver” has diminishing impact in a context of reduced budgets, rising demand […]

13th September, 2018


Exploring the pros and cons of joint ventures, wholly-owned housing delivery companies and council-led delivery.

29th July, 2018


Implementing the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and using this opportunity to innovate.

20th July, 2018


Starting with problems, not software and focusing on users’ needs to make the most of new digital tools.

20th June, 2018


Exploring how different councils have approached co-production: where users are equally responsible for shaping a service.

29th May, 2018


Whilst recent events have placed emphasis on generational differences– particularly between millennials and older baby-boomers – intergenerational Homeshare schemes are addressing a problem that cuts across the perceived generational divide, […]

23rd May, 2018


We know our staff are our biggest asset and at a time of limited resources we need to ensure we are utilising their full potential. We deploy operational staff in […]

30th April, 2018


Increasingly councils are recognising that it is organisational culture not structure that drives impact. But what is the culture of local government? Why is changing it important? And how can […]

18th April, 2018


This article first appeared in the LGC on 17 April 2018 The news that the British National Party no longer has any representation in local government following the resignation of […]

18th April, 2018


Insight into how to get the right team in place to explore the possibilities of data.

20th March, 2018


Exploring how councils are measuring social value and the impact this can have on procurement processes.

29th January, 2018


Exploring how councils are approaching inclusive growth in practice.

29th November, 2017


Exploring how councils can make use of behavioural insights.

20th October, 2017


Guide to setting up effective governance of commercialisation projects to reduce risks and enable growth.

20th October, 2017


Exploring different methods to frame and implement your transformation programme.

20th August, 2017


Key questions to ask when thinking about a trading company model, including and case studies of successful examples.

20th July, 2017


“How can we continue to secure the dignity, wellbeing and happiness of people after nearly a decade of cuts?” pondered the Chief Executive of one London council at a dialogue […]

18th July, 2017


At a time of intense financial pressures and when central government’s mind is on other things, many are asking themselves where local government goes next. In a think-piece launching NLGN’s […]

1st July, 2017


The links between problems like homelessness, substance misuse, mental ill health, violence,domestic abuse and extreme poverty often go unrecognised by services and systems mostly designed to deal with one issue […]

10th May, 2017


In recent years, the word ‘place’ has become a bit of a buzzword in the local government sector. Terms like ‘place-leadership’, ‘place-branding’ and ‘place-building’ are now ubiquitous in strategy documents […]

27th March, 2017


At Essex County Council we are passionate about making a positive contribution to the lives of Essex residents and businesses. It is what we exist for. The qualities of the […]

23rd March, 2017


Local government faces a funding gap of £5.8 billion by 2019/20. At the launch of NLGN’s latest research report Tomorrow’s Places, Theo Blackwell, Councillor at LB Camden, stated “Technology will […]

22nd March, 2017


Technology is always evolving. However over the last decade our ability to harness the data it can generate and the connections it can bring has undergone a step-change. Using the […]

17th March, 2017


DOWNLOAD NLGN RECOMMENDATIONS AND ACTIONS NLGN were commissioned by Power to Change in March 2016, to provide the most comprehensive possible mapping of asset transfers from local authorities to communities […]

2nd November, 2016


This final report moves the debate into practical territory by focussing on actions rather than structures, and the wider resources of places rather than the organisational boundaries of institutions.

17th March, 2016


The fire and rescue service (FRS) has a critical choice to make about its future. Severe budget cuts in the Revenue Support Grant and limitations on council tax income are […]

30th July, 2015


This research outlines a clear pathway to an integrated future for public services. A new report from NLGN has outlined business models that councils can adopt to help them work towards integration.

17th September, 2014


This report focuses on what local areas can do themselves to transform, and how central government can support this. What we really need is radical change of relationships at a local level, and to support areas to catalyse this...

6th May, 2014


What will the councillors of the future look like? This paper starts with a short futures exercise which explores the styles of political leadership that are likely to emerge by the end of the decade as members grapple with...

16th July, 2013


A new report from localism think tank the New Local Government Network (NLGN) will this week show which areas of the country are most ready to benefit and most at […]

29th June, 2011


The financial situation means that public services have to develop a new relationship with citizens, whether that is to discuss which functions to cut back or, more positively, to find new ways to engage people in shaping their local...

19th April, 2011