Tag: Local government

How do councils keep making progress on climate and nature goals when the landscape is shifting beneath their feet? That was the question at the heart of a recent three-part […]

1st October, 2026

Climate change • Local government

Across local government, there is growing interest in neighbourhood working as a way of delivering more relational, preventative and community-powered public services. Over the coming months, we will be sharing how councils in our network, […]

22nd June, 2026

Community Power • Local government • Neighbourhood Working • Neighbourhoods in Practice • Public Services

This article was first published in the LGC on 9 June 2026 and previews themes from Sir David Robinson’s keynote address at Stronger Things 2026. As local government grapples with rising […]

11th June, 2026

Community engagement • Community Power • Local government • Public Services

This article was first published in The MJ on 21 May 2026. Speakers at next month’s Stronger Things will imagine how future local governments could use missions to galvanise partners […]

26th May, 2026

Community Power • Local government • Missions • Stronger Things

21st Century Councillor research from Professor Catherine Mangan

23rd April, 2026

Community engagement • Councillors • Local government

Join us for this member only Lunch and Learn session with Catherine Mangan, Professor of Public Management and Leadership at the Institute of Local Government Studies, and Interim Head of […]

30th January, 2026

Councillors • Local government

As new unitary councils come into being, many will face an immediate expectation to deliver cost savings from day one. Yet the reality of transformation, interrogation and service redesign is […]

13th January, 2026

Local government • Prevention

Join us for this member exclusive Lunch and Learn session with Dmitrije Sirovica, Senior Associate at Browne Jacobson, as he shares insights into the current proposal stage of LGR, and takes […]

1st October, 2025

Devolution • English Devolution • Local government

To mark Challenge Poverty weeks across the UK, join us for this member exclusive Lunch and Learn session focused on platforming some of the incredible work going on in Fife […]

18th July, 2025

Local government • Place • Tackling Poverty

What do you get when you combine collective expertise, healthy debate, and optimism? You get Stronger Things 2025, of course!

12th June, 2025

Community Power • Georgia Gould MP • Local government • Stronger Things

John Denham and Jessica Studdert set out five reasons why now is the time for Total Place 2.0.

29th May, 2025

Community Power • Local government • Spending Review • Total Place

Grace Duffy, Director of Policy, Influencing and Engagement at Bridges Outcomes Partnership, tells us about their work with local authorities and partnerships they have developed to build better outcomes for residents.

13th May, 2025

Community Power • Local government • Partnerships • Public Services

This report sets out the vital role that community centres play in local areas and makes the case for investing in their future.

7th May, 2025

Community assets • Community centres • Community engagement • Community Power • Local government

Alice Black, Sophie Taylor and Sue Sheehan explain how the London Borough of Camden is embracing neighbourhood ways of working.

22nd April, 2025

Community engagement • Community Power • Local government • Strategy and leadership

Jessica Studdert shares four fundamental shifts that are taking local government leadership into new territory and explains why the changing sector landscape demands a common understanding of leadership.

20th March, 2025

Devolution and reorganisation • Leadership • Local government • Strategy and leadership

Steve Grimshaw explains how Kent County Council brought more than 8,000 empty properties back into use over 20 years through its No Use Empty project.

19th March, 2025

Economy and business • Housing • Local government

In a career spanning councils, digital agencies and central government, TPXimpact’s Ben Unsworth has been at the forefront of reshaping local government. We speak to him about why councils are […]

19th March, 2025

Design Thinking • Digital • Leadership • Local government • Strategy and leadership

Graham Beamish and Marie Pye explain how Suffolk and Norfolk County Councils have saved 1000 years’ worth of care days for children and young people.

17th February, 2025

Childrens' Services • Local government • Partnerships • Prevention • Public Services

What does it take to lead in local government today? What qualities, skills, and mindsets are needed to navigate the choppy waters surrounding public services? And what old models no […]

13th February, 2025

Leadership • Local government • Strategy and leadership

Join us for this member exclusive Lunch and Learn session with Laura Hughes, Partner/Head of Public Law at Browne Jacobson, where we will delve into the Practical guide to the […]

29th January, 2025

Devolution • English Devolution • Local government

As the Government’s agenda for local government, devolution and public services takes shape, a ‘new local’ is emerging, built on the principles of power, prevention and place.

27th January, 2025

Community Power • Local government • Place-based budgets • Politics • Prevention • Public Services

New Local response to the English Devolution White Paper

16th December, 2024

Central government • Local government • Politics

The government needs an overarching strategy for public service reform that dispenses with traditional Whitehall ‘business as usual’ assumptions, writes Jessica Studdert.

13th December, 2024

Central government • Community Power • Local government • Public Services • Strategy and leadership

Rob Thomas, Chief Executive of Vale of Glamorgan Council, tells us about the council’s deepening partnership approach, why there’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach to delivering vital local services, what community power means to the council, and why...

26th November, 2024

Community Power • Local government • Strategy and leadership

Caroline Wilson, Director of Inclusive Economy and Jobs at Islington Borough Council, explains how the council’s approach to community wealth building has emerged and deepened, how it’s helping to tackle inequalities, and how it touches the lives of people...

11th November, 2024

Community engagement • Community Power • Economy and business • Local government

The new Government has an opportunity to shift the institutions at SW1 to actively seek insight beyond its small postcode, says Jessica Studdert.

11th November, 2024

Central government • Community Power • Devolution and reorganisation • Local government • Policy • Public Services

In North Birkenhead a unique programme is joining up services and putting community priorities at the heart of decision making, creating impact that could be a model for national policy change.

7th November, 2024

Community Power • Local government • Public Services • Social Care • Total Place

Jessica Studdert identifies three shifts local government needs from the first fiscal event of the new Parliament.

23rd October, 2024

Budgeting • Central government • Local government • Politics • Public Services

Get ready to celebrate and get inspired at Your Next Generation Celebration. After an exceptional year of connection and growth, we are delighted to offer participants of our Next Generation […]

23rd October, 2024

Career • Local government • next generation

How can community power unlock our fraught planning system?

21st October, 2024

Community Power • Housing • Local government • Place building • Planning • Regeneration

We put Hal Khanom in our ‘How We Did It’ hot seat to hear how the London Borough of Barnet has developed its equalities strategy, A Fairer Barnet.

17th October, 2024

Community engagement • Community Power • Equality • Local government • Strategy and leadership

Devolution should move beyond technocratic functionality and embed meaningful participation and dialogue in decision-making, says Jessica Studdert.

14th October, 2024

Devolution • Local government • Public Services • Strategy and leadership

This member-exclusive Innovation Explored explores community-powered methods to put residents at the heart of budgeting decisions and how to shift to more open dialogue about what stretched finances mean for services.

13th September, 2024

Budgeting • Community engagement • Local government • Strategy and leadership

Matthew China, Policy, Insight and Communications Manager at Wealden District Council tells us about Wealden’s ambition to become a community-powered council, how it’s building on strong foundations to take on the challenges of the future, and some of the...

10th September, 2024

Community Power • Local government • Place building • Strategy and leadership

By listening to and valuing the insights of communities, the public sector can build better services, improve outcomes and use limited resources more wisely. But what are the essential ingredients for effective collaboration? And how can you overcome barriers...

14th August, 2024

Collaboration • Community engagement • Community Power • Local government • Public Services • Wellbeing

New Local worked with the newly formed Westmorland and Furness Council to develop a vision, strategic approach and delivery plan to put communities at the heart of its operating model.

12th August, 2024

Community engagement • Community Power • Local government • Strategy and leadership

After a bold start, the Government has an opportunity to pursue a test and learn approach to place-based service reform, says Jessica Studdert.

12th August, 2024

Local government • Politics • Public Services

Councils are facing reduced funding, rising demand and increasing costs. New Local and IPPO's research project explores how local authorities are responding and what we can learn.

31st July, 2024

Local government • Local government finance • Public Services

New Local Chair Katie Kelly talks to Shaheen Warren from our practice team ahead of our brand-new Radical Leaders event in September. Expect topics from leadership icons to Damascene moments and finding courage through collaboration.

29th July, 2024

Community Power • Leadership • Local government • Public Services • Strategy and leadership

Join us for this member only Lunch and Learn session with Catherine Mangan, Professor of Public Management and Leadership at the Institute of Local Government Studies, University of Birmingham and […]

23rd July, 2024

Local government • public servant

Kath O'Dwyer has spent the last 40 years making her mark in public service, most lately as the chief executive of St Helens Council. Picking questions at random, she talks life outside work, inspirational quotes, and why she's a...

22nd July, 2024

Community engagement • Leadership • Leadership Lucky Draw • Local government • Northern England • Strategy and leadership

New MPs have arrived for their first day on the job, the Cabinet is in post, and the wheels of government are turning once more. Catriona Maclay puts forward nine lessons that can be learnt from local government.

11th July, 2024

Central government • Community Power • Local government • Politics • Public Services • Strategy and leadership

Imran Hashmi outlines three principles for local authorities to strengthen their support for community businesses.

17th June, 2024

Community Power • Cost of Living Crisis • Economy and business • Local government • Resilience

Reflections on Stronger Things 2024 by Brendan Martin, Public World.

7th June, 2024

Community Power • Local government • Public Services • Stronger Things

Five reasons why we think Stronger Things might just be the most valuable eight hours of your year.

20th May, 2024

Community Power • Local government • Public Services • Stronger Things

As she steps into an interim CEO role, Jessica Studdert puts forward three proposals for the next government, at a critical time for councils.

13th May, 2024

Central government • Devolution • Local government • Local government finance • Place-based budgets • Total Place

In his last week as chief executive of New Local, Adam Lent ditches sensible moderation and describes the change we really need: radical integration, radical devolution and radical community power.

2nd May, 2024

Community Power • Devolution and reorganisation • Local government • Politics • Public Services

On local election day we're celebrating some of the many ways councils are transforming their places with the help of community power.

2nd May, 2024

Community engagement • Community Power • Democracy • Local government • Politics

Radical Leaders has now happened! If you are interested in hearing about similar events, please sign up to our mailing list. 19-20 September 2024Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, London We’ve […]

26th April, 2024

Leadership • Local government • Strategy and leadership

Labour lacks a strategy for a public sector under unprecedented pressure. The solution can be found on the frontline, says Adam Lent.

8th April, 2024

Community engagement • Community Power • Local government • Politics • Public Services