Improvement and innovation bulletin

May 2026

Welcome to the latest Improvement and Innovation bulletin. 

Sector support offers

Support for newly-elected councillors

The LGA’s comprehensive support offer for new and existing councillors includes our ⁠councillor hub. The hub provides a whole host of support and resources to help councillors learn more about the work of the LGA and how we can support councils, including political support. We also offer support to all councils where there is a change of political control, including help with leadership transition post-election, and mentoring for new leaders and portfolio holders. To support new councillors in their roles, the LGA has produced a briefing for new councillors and councillor induction essentials guide.

Sector Support programme for 2026/27

The LGA has agreed the Sector Support programme for 2026/27 with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Support will carry forward existing elements which we know that councils value, such as corporate peer challenges, wide-ranging councillor and officer development opportunities, direct finance support and LG Inform – our award-winning benchmarking tool, which provides over 12,500 metrics at a local level, now featuring a new report that captures all available metrics for the Local Outcomes Framework.

LGR finance essentials: Understanding how assets are transferred to the new unitary councils through LGR

The LGA has developed a guide on ‘Understanding how assets are transferred to new unitary councils through LGR’, which is the fourth of a series of finance guidance documents that form part of the LGR toolkit for councils. This note focuses on the importance of understanding councils’ existing asset bases and capital programmes in order to agree how these will transfer to new unitary council/s as part of LGR.

Political Leadership programmes

Bookings are now open for the LGA 2026–27 cross-party political leadership programmes, including the Leadership Academy and Leadership Essentials programmes with themed offers covering areas such as Children’s Services, Finance, Planning and more.

We also offer a wide range of councillor development events, including the Focus on Leadership series. This features dedicated Weekender events for Young Councillors, LGBTQ+ Councillors, and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Councillors, as well as our Effective Opposition programmes.

LG Challenge open for applications

The Local Government Challenge has opened registrations for the 2027 cycle. Registration forms are now available for officer nominations, as well as for local authorities interested in hosting a challenge. Officers may pre‑register their interest, or be nominated. Authorities wishing to register their interest in hosting a challenge can do so using this form.

Webinars and events

Councillor Transformation Network

Monday 8 June 2026, 1.00pm-2.30pm

The Councillor Transformation Network gives councillors from across the country a safe space to network, discuss issues and trends effecting councils, and hear from each other and guests on new policies, programmes, and practices. The next meeting will focus on the art of the possible and what can be achieved through transformation.  If you are interested in joining this network please sign up by completing our expression of interest form.

Introduction to council audit committees

Tuesday 9 June 2026, 2.00pm-3.30pm

We will be delivering a virtual event to provide useful insight into the role and function of the audit committee in local government. The session will look at the role of an elected member in terms of the audit committee itself the wider governance role of councillors and committee members in this area. The session will be delivered by a LGA associate.

Book now: Introduction to council audit committees.

Local Government Reorganisation support - The experience of being a unitary councillor

Wednesday 10 June 2026, 2.00pm-3.15pm

This virtual event will give councillors in districts, boroughs and counties approaching Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) an honest and practical insight into what it means to serve as a unitary councillor.

Book now: Local Government Reorganisation support.

How do councils work? An introduction to governance for new councillors

Wednesday 17 June 2026, 2.00pm-3.30pm

We will be delivering a webinar to consider the fundamentals around how councils are governed and the different roles and responsibilities of councillors and officers. The aim is to help new councillors to contribute to decision-making and scrutiny of decisions in order to deliver good outcomes for local residents. The session will be delivered by a LGA officer and a supporting member peer.

Book now: How do councils work? An introduction to governance for new councillors.

How do councils work? An introduction to governance for new councillors

Wednesday 17 June 2026, 2.00pm-3.30pm

Are you a newly elected councillor looking to find your feet? Join this free UK Government funded webinar which offers a practical introduction to how councils are governed. You will explore the roles and responsibilities of councillors and officers, how decisions are made, and the structures that keep your council safe from legal challenge and failure. The session also draws on lessons from recent failures in public bodies to help you spot warning signs early. 

Book now: How do councils work? An introduction to governance for new councillors.

LGA Annual Conference and Exhibition 2026 (in-person event)

Join us in Bournemouth for the biggest event in the local government calendar, where we’ll be discussing the latest issues affecting local government.

Book now: LGA Annual Conference and Exhibition 2026.

Innovation Zone at Annual Conference 2026

The Innovation Zone returns to Annual Conference this year with a refreshed programme showcasing some of the most innovative and forward looking work taking place across local government. Sessions will explore themes including neighbourhoods and communities, digital innovation and AI, devolution, place, and local government reorganisation, with a focus on practical learning, fresh ideas and real world examples from councils.

Book now: LGA Annual Conference and Exhibition 2026.

Mis/disinformation training workshop (online)

Tuesday 14 July 2026, 2.00pm-4.00pm

The LGA is repeating an online mis/disinformation training workshop for elected members. The session will be delivered by two expert speakers and aims to help attendees better understand mis/disinformation, as well as equipping them with the tools to respond proactively and reactively. Please note, this is a repeat of the mis/disinformation training we have previously run: the content of the session will be the same.

To register your interest in the session, please contact Zainab.Khanom@local.gov.uk

Council housing and LGR: Aggregation, disaggregation and the practical implications for delivery

Tuesday 14 July 2026, 2.00pm-3.15pm

This virtual event will draw on lessons from councils with direct LGR experience to explore the practical implications of aggregation and disaggregation for housing and related services. The session will also include insight from the LGA’s Council Housebuilding Support Service (CHoSS) to help councils think through the issues they may need to consider early to protect their capacity to deliver social and affordable homes, manage risk and support longer-term housebuilding ambitions through reorganisation.

Book now: Council housing and LGR: Aggregation, disaggregation and the practical implications for delivery.

Additionally, you might be interested in...

New and emerging lead library officers course

Arts Council England are providing fully-funded residential places available for library officers new to strategic roles or developing towards a strategic role. The course will take place from Monday 29 June to Wednesday 1 July. Participants will hear good practice from sector partners, Department for Culture Media and Sport partners and peers, build an action plan and build your networks. To apply for a place complete this short application form.

LG Inform and LG Inform Plus

Local Outcomes Framework – LG Inform update

The Government published the first full edition of the Local Outcomes Framework (LOF) on 9 February 2026, alongside the 2026–27 to 2028–29 Local Government Finance Settlement. The Framework sets out 16 national priority outcomes to be delivered through strong partnership working between central and local government.

For the LG Inform community, the LG Inform Outcomes Framework report has been updated to support councils in monitoring progress against the LOF. These changes reflect sector feedback and aim to provide councils with a more intuitive and reliable resource for tracking LOF progress. As you know, the Local Outcomes Framework contains broad descriptions. In some cases there are many similar metrics which could be candidates; and sometimes they can be calculated in slightly different ways too.  Ahead of more detailed information from MHCLG, we will keep attempting to improve the information we provide, with the help of the sector, to assist your preparations.  We can confirm that all new metrics included in the latest Government publication are now loaded into the LG Inform database. Following popular demand, the metrics ID numbers for any API users have been provided on the LG Inform front page.

We received invaluable sector feedback—including from Oldham; Richmond and Wandsworth; Kensington and Chelsea; Cornwall; Sandwell; Sheffield; Westmorland and Furness; East Sussex; and London Councils—in our comprehensive review of the draft metrics. We would like to thank each of these councils for their time, insight and close attention to detail.

For information on LG Inform contact us at lginform@local.gov.uk, or to take advantage of the benefits of subscribing to LG Inform Plus contact lginformplus@local.gov.uk.

Yours faithfully, 

Cllr Peter Mason

Chair of the LGA Improvement Committee