Let us know your improvement support needs | Improvement Support Annual Report 2025/26 | Sector Support Ambassador Toolkit
 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 
 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

View in browser

Improvement and innovation bulletin

September 2026

 


 

Welcome to the latest Improvement and Innovation bulletin. 

 

Sector support offers

Let us know your improvement support needs

As we look towards 2027, we are beginning discussions with Government departments regarding future support programmes for local and strategic authorities.


Our wide-ranging sector support offer can be accessed on our website, which sets out all aspects of the support we provide. To help ensure the support continues to meet your needs, please let us know what aspects of support are of most value to your authority, or let us know if there are new types of support that would be beneficial.

LGA Improvement Support Annual Report 2025/26

The LGA has published its Improvement Support Annual Report 2025/26, highlighting the reach and impact of improvement and support programmes delivered to councils and strategic authorities across England. The report showcases support across the core Sector Support Programme alongside a wide range of service-specific and specialist offers and demonstrates how sector-led improvement is helping councils respond to challenges and deliver for their communities.

Sector Support Ambassador Toolkit

The LGA has published a new Sector Support Ambassador Toolkit, which includes resources such as slide decks and a quick reference guide highlighting the support available. The toolkit has been designed to help councillors and officers champion the sector support offer, raise awareness of its benefits and promote opportunities for engagement, including signposting to relevant programmes, resources and key contacts.


The resources highlight the value of peer-led support from experienced councillors and officers, provide practical information on the range of support available, and help users signpost colleagues to relevant programmes and contacts.

LGR Peers Programme

We're expanding the LGA's officer peer pool to support councils through Local Government Reorganisation. We're seeking experienced officers with expertise in LGR, transformation, system change, service reorganisation or programme delivery. If you're interested, update your peer profile to include your LGR experience or apply to become an officer peer by completing the short form.

Disabled Councillors Leadership Programme

Applications are now open for Cohort 5 of the Disabled Councillors Leadership Programme. This programme is a unique opportunity to grow your skills, confidence and experience, working with other disabled councillors and developing as a cohort of peers. Councillors can apply by completing this short online form.

AMPlify Programme

Applications have opened for our sixth cohort of the AMPlify Programme. The LGA partners with SOLACE to deliver AMPlify, aimed at colleagues in local government who are currently under-represented at senior leadership levels. The programme is specifically designed for staff who have the ambition and potential to become future leaders in local government. If you’re interested in taking part in the next cohort or know anyone who might be interested, you can find out more here.

Boosting Middle Leaders 2026/27

Applications are now open for the Boosting Middle Leaders Programme 2026/27. This leadership development programme is designed to strengthen the connection between councillors and officers, building the confidence, skills and relationships needed to lead change within organisations and across systems. The programme is aimed at Heads of Service, Assistant Directors, Directors, Cabinet Members and Committee Chairs. To apply, complete the application for: Boosting Middle Leaders Programme 2026/27 application form. Applications close at 23.59pm on 5 October 2026.


For questions about the programme or application process, please contact annie.jones@local.gov.uk

Impact: The Local Government Graduate Programme Cohort 29

Councils are invited to sign up for the next round of recruitment for the LGA’s flagship national graduate programme, Impact. The council registration window runs from 1 September to 31 March for an autumn 2027 intake. If your council is interested in participating, please contact the team as soon as possible at Impact@local.gov.uk.

Expanded support to help councils deliver more homes

The Government has confirmed £46 million of Capacity to Build funding over the next three years, strengthening the support available to councils to increase social and affordable housing delivery. Through the Council Housebuilding Support Service (CHoSS), councils can access free, tailored support to help develop, unblock or accelerate their housebuilding ambitions. This can include specialist advice, practical guidance, workshops and peer learning across areas such as finance and viability, land and pipeline development, delivery models, governance, workforce and skills.


CHoSS is open to councils across England, whether they are at an early stage of developing their housing ambitions or looking to accelerate existing programmes. Find out more on the CHoSS webpage or email CHoSS@local.gov.uk.

 

Webinars and events

Turning ambition into action: Decarbonising health and social care locally

Wednesday 16 September 2026, 10.00am - 11.30am


Join this virtual event to explore how councils can deliver low‑carbon, sustainable care. Hear practical examples, share challenges and identify collaboration opportunities. Discover how decarbonisation can reduce costs, improve health outcomes and ease system pressures across local services.


Book now: Turning ambition into action: Decarbonising health and social care locally

An introduction to financial governance

With finances in local authorities getting ever tighter, it is even more important that every council makes sure that it has the culture and systems to ensure that finance is well governed and controlled. Good governance starts at full council and every councillor has a role to play, but what does good financial governance look like?


These two virtual modules, funded by the UK Government, will explore this question.

  • Book now: Cohort 1 - Tuesday 22 September and Thursday 8 October 2026, 10.00am - 1.00pm
  • Book now: Cohort 2 - Thursday 12 November and Thursday 3 December 2026, 10.00am - 1.00pm

Roundtable: Greenhouse Gas Accounting Tool & Waste Emissions Calculator

Tuesday 29 September 2026, 10.00am - 11.30am


Join this roundtable to explore how councils can ensure accurate, meaningful greenhouse gas reporting. Discover the LGA’s free GHG Accounting Tool and Waste Emissions Calculator through expert presentations and practical demonstrations. Also, partake in discussions with peers, to share experiences and discuss common challenges with topics such as LGR and Scope 3 emissions.


Book now: LGA Sustainability Roundtable

Casework management: Hitchhiker’s guide to the casework galaxy

Monday 5 October 2026, 1.00pm - 2.30pm


This session is designed to help councillors manage their casework effectively, including tools for coping with an excess of conflicting demands. It will consider how to translate ‘corporate speak’ to language which residents can recognise and understand, when responding to concerns or issues.  As every council has individual systems for recording casework, this session is about principles and good practice behind managing casework rather than specific databases or processes.   


Book now: Casework management: Hitchhiker’s guide to the casework galaxy

Finance without numbers

Wednesday 14 October 2026, 6.00pm - 7.30pm


This virtual event will provide an overview of local government finance focusing on roles and responsibilities, key terminologies, and processes rather than on the numbers.


Book now: Finance without numbers

Data masterclass for chief executives

Tuesday 20 October 2026 10.00am-12.00pm


This free virtual masterclass for chief executives will show how better use of data can transform services, improve outcomes and deliver efficiencies, with real case studies, practical insights and peer discussion.


Book now: Data masterclass for chief executives

Leadership Essentials Transformation

Saturday 31 October - Sunday 1 November 2026 

(Session 7 – Warwick Conferences, Coventry CV4 7SH)


As a councillor, you’re likely hearing that ‘transformation programmes’ are the way to make efficiencies and savings but what does that really mean? Our series of Leadership Essentials on Transformation will help demystify transformation, giving councillors the confidence and capability to lead the transformation agenda within their councils.


Book now: 2026/27 Leadership Essentials - Transformation

Transport and sustainability action learning sets

The LGA is running two separate free Action Learning Sets for English councils: one on transport and one on sustainable finance. Running across January–March 2027, each programme consists of three online sessions where participants can explore real-world challenges, share experiences and develop practical solutions with colleagues from other authorities.


Book now: www.local.gov.uk

Leadership Essentials LGR programmes

Programme 5: Saturday 30 January – Sunday 31 January 2027


Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) is the most significant structural shift in local governance in a generation. Our Leadership Essentials LGR programmes will provide leadership training on LGR to give councillors the confidence, capability, and awareness to lead the LGR agenda within their local authorities and in their local areas.


Please email grace.collins@local.gov.uk to book your place.

 

LG Inform and LG Inform Plus

New LG Inform Reports Supporting Evidence-Based Decision Making

LG Inform has published three new reports to help councils understand local needs, benchmark performance and support service improvement.


The Men’s Health Report brings together a range of health and wellbeing indicators to support local authorities in responding to the Government's Men’s Health Strategy for England. The report helps users identify areas where targeted action could improve outcomes for men and boys.


The Family Hubs Report, produced in partnership with the National Centre for Family Hubs, provides a consolidated view of key family-related metrics. It supports evidence-based decision making, early intervention and service planning by enabling authorities to benchmark performance and understand local need in a national context.


The Adult Social Care Commissioning Self-Evaluation Framework (CSEF) Evidence and Narrative Report supports councils completing the LGA’s self-evaluation process. It brings together contextual data, intelligence and narrative across key commissioning themes, helping authorities assess strengths, identify areas for improvement and develop evidence-based responses.


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 Claire Holland

Chair of the LGA Improvement Committee

Contact us

18 Smith Square

Westminster

London SW1P 3HZ

Email: info@local.gov.uk

Tel: 020 7644 3000

Web: local.gov.uk

© 2026 Microsoft Dynamics. All rights reserved.

Local Government Association, 18 Smith Square, London SW1P 3HZ

Unsubscribe