Local government is open to new ideas and is willing to adapt – but most councils lack the essential skills and culture to innovate, a report handed to The MJ this week reveals.

Catching the wave – a study commissioned by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) – found the majority of councils were ‘either not ready or demonstrate low levels of readiness, and 73% demonstrate low levels of ability to scrutinise the challenges likely to be faced while attempting to innovate'.