Localis report urges government to implement comprehensive changes to achieve ambitious national missions

Localis, an independent think-tank, has released a new report calling on the government to support local leaders in adopting proactive and preventative approaches to service provision. The report, titled “Heart of the Matter – Getting to Grips with Whole Place Transformation,” recommends that the government restore stability to council finances as a foundation for delivering on national renewal missions and encourages collaborative partnership working across the public and private sector.

The report argues that switching to a “whole place” model of local public service reform would support the new government’s ambitious national missions and provide an opportunity to bring about lasting change after a decade of decline among English councils.

Localis chief executive Jonathan Werran stated, “‘Heart of the matter’ is a call to action for both local leaders and central government to work together to deliver the high-quality, sustainable public services our communities deserve.”

The report recommends that the government make an immediate cash injection into local authorities for frontline service delivery to restore sustainability and halt the decline in neighborhood service provision. It also suggests examining local government revenue sources, including fiscal devolution, to chart a course to longer-term sustainability.

Sean Hanson, chief executive of IMPOWER, a partner in the report, believes that lasting social change and inclusive economic growth can only be achieved by turning the promise of whole-place transformation into a reality. He stated, “The report’s findings look back on what has worked in the past, including investment in prevention, collaborative partnership working, and community empowerment.”

The report also calls for a transformative renewal of place policy that focuses on empowering local leadership, embedding preventative approaches, promoting collaborative cultures, and practicing community co-design. These recommendations aim to balance the imperatives of radical reformulation of the settlement between central and local government and the need for councils to continue delivering strategically and intelligently despite a system that often works against such activity.

To read the full report and recommendations, visit https://www.localis.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Localis-Heart-of-the-Matter-Report-AUG24-180x230mm-PRF06.pdf.

To learn more about the report and its recommendations, join the online report launch on Thursday, September 12 from 11:00 to 12:00. Speakers will include Cllr Abi Brown, Chair of the LGA Improvement and Innovation Board; Sean Hanson, Chief Executive of IMPOWER; Professor Colin Copus, Localis Fellow; and Kate Martin, Executive Director of City Futures at Sheffield City Council. Register for the launch at https://www.localis.org.uk/events/heart-of-the-matter-the-foundational-case-for-whole-place-transformation/.

For press inquiries, contact Jonathan Werran, chief executive of Localis, at 0870 448 1530 or jonathan.werran@localis.org.uk. For IMPOWER, contact PLMR PR agency at 0800 058 4219 or impower@plmr.co.uk.