Governance

Latest Governance

AI

AI: powering the next chapter of UK local government

By Emma Foy | 19 January 2026

One year on from the national AI Action Plan, Emma Foy says those who move early – and move responsibly – will shape the future of local government service delivery.

AI

Shaping standards for public sector AI

By Professor Jennifer Schooling | 15 January 2026

Local government is under increasing pressure to adopt AI-based tools to improve delivery, but sy...

AI

On your marks for the AI era in local government

By Dan Peters | 15 January 2026

Councils are racing to use AI to cut costs and improve services – but a shortage of skills is hol...

SOCIAL CARE

Tips for the residential care top-ups

By Lisa Morgan | 14 January 2026

As care costs continue to increase, local authorities must ensure their top-up fee processes for ...

REORGANISATION

LGR will fail without an estate strategy

By Kane Lennon | 14 January 2026

Kane Lennon says reorganisation offers councils an opportunity to reshape the public estate, and ...

SEND

Council says 'more to be done' after SEND improvements

By Lee Peart | 05 January 2026

Hertfordshire CC has said there is still ‘more to be done’ after an inspection report noted impro...

AI

Giving the public a seat at the table on AI decision

By Kathy Peach | 19 December 2025

Nesta’s research proves that when people are given more context about specific AI tools and their...

PUBLIC SERVICE REFORM

Moving from place-based budget pilots to mainstream practice

By Dr Simon Kaye | 16 December 2025

The Treasury must back real place-based budgets – not just another Red Book annex, warns Dr Simon...

FINANCE

Clear allocation details are essential for councils to understand the waste funding system

By Tracy Bingham | 16 December 2025

Tracy Bingham says councils need certainty and clarity if they are to deliver on the vital waste ...

A sad day for democracy

By Colin Copus | 10 December 2025

The Government’s commitment to bringing in a mandatory code of conduct alongside new powers to su...

REORGANISATION

Districts should look carefully at the creation of new town and city councils

By Ian Miller | 08 December 2025

Where public and political demand exist, districts have bandwidth now to focus on creating town o...