Improvement and innovation bulletin

April 2026

Welcome to the latest Improvement and Innovation bulletin. 

Sector support offers

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 Toolkit

We have published our Local Government Reorganisation Toolkit, which has been developed by Local Partnerships with support from sector partners. This toolkit collates tools, templates and lessons learned from previous rounds of LGR, with clear signposting to support officers and councillors to plan and deliver LGR.

The toolkit will develop over time, focussing initially on cross-cutting issues such as governance, leadership and finance. We are keen to gather feedback as to what content councils would find most helpful next; please contact localism@local.gov.uk with any views to support prioritisation of the next stage of content.

Good practice guidance on effective decision making

We have published new good practice guidance on effective decision-making  designed to help elected members to make transparent, proportionate and well-informed decisions that improve outcomes for residents based on sound governance practice.

Innovation Zone 2025 publication

The LGA has published a new Innovation Zone 2025 publication, capturing the ideas and practical approaches shared in the Innovation Zone at the LGA Annual Conference. The case studies reflect the programme shaped and signed off by the cross-party member working group of the LGA’s Improvement Committee. 

The publication highlights how councils and partners are responding to shared challenges, with examples covering areas including digital and AI, workforce, housing, economic growth, climate and public health. It aims to support peer learning across the sector by sharing approaches that councils may wish to explore in their own local contexts.

Council Housebuilding Support Service (CHoSS) – supporting councils to build with confidence

The Council Housebuilding Support Service (CHoSS) provides free, tailored support to councils across England to help build capacity, capability and confidence to deliver more council homes. The programme is now in active delivery, working with councils at different stages of their housebuilding journey and offering practical advice and support on delivery routes, land and pipeline development, governance and leadership.

Councils are encouraged to get in touch as soon as possible to access the current round of support. For an initial, no-obligation discussion, contact choss@local.gov.uk or complete the short Expression of Interest (EOI) form.

Webinars and events

Sustainability in council housebuilding

Thursday 23 April 2026, 11.00am - 12.00pm

The Council Housebuilding Support Service (CHoSS), with Local Partnerships and the LGA Sustainability team, is hosting a practical session on embedding sustainability into council housebuilding. Drawing on peer insights from leading councils, the webinar will explore how to balance environmental ambition with viability, governance and delivery, supporting councils to integrate net zero considerations into robust and deliverable housing programmes.

Book now: Sustainability in council housebuilding.

Local Government Reorganisation support: LGR implementation planning and prioritisation

Wednesday 20 May 2026, 2.00pm - 3.15pm

This virtual event will hear from LGR-experienced councils to explore how to approach implementation planning during LGR, including prioritisation and how to balance LGR demands with business as usual delivery. We will also examine the role of Programme Management Offices, including structures, resourcing, collaboration and governance.

Book now: Local Government Reorganisation support: LGR implementation planning and prioritisation.

Local government’s best kept secret - unlock the value of your data at the GeoPlace Conference 2026

Thursday 21 May 2026

The GeoPlace Annual Conference on 21 May is a free, high‑value opportunity for transformation leads to see how address and street data can drive better services, improve efficiency, and support cross‑service integration.

With strategic keynotes, practical roundtables, and peer‑led case examples, you’ll gain insight into tools, techniques and national standards that help authorities maximise their data investments and deliver measurable organisational benefits.

Book now: GeoPlace Annual Conference on 21 May.

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.

Additionally, you might be interested in...

Local elections

With local elections fast approaching, the LGA's regional teams, underpinned by expert member peers are on hand to provide support at scale. Responding to wider calls from the sector, we will be expanding our learning and development offers for chief executives and launching new support and guidance relating to incoming employment law reforms, to support councils in understanding and navigating these changes. As always, our support is available across all tiers of the sector, including mayoral combined authorities.

Performance management case studies

The LGA has published a range of new case studies from councils, which highlight notable practice in performance management and are packed full of inspiration and practical tips.

Recruitment reset and retention reset programme (April start)

There are some spaces available on the Recruitment Reset and Retention Reset programmes - designed to help councils modernise practices, boost capability and build a stronger workforce. Join expert‑led sessions, gain practical tools and learn alongside peers. Councils can still get involved by registering their interest now.

Culture and library peer challenge opportunities

Arts Council England and the LGA are offering fully-funded culture and library peer challenge opportunities to councils across England throughout 2026. These peer challenges can provide useful insights that can directly contribute to strategic work focused on devolution, income generation, economic growth, public health and wider cross-cutting priorities. For more information visit our culture and library services programmes page.

LG Inform and LG Inform Plus

Local Outcomes Framework Published - 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 in partnership between central and local government.

Cllr Jane Scullion, former Chair of the LGA Improvement Committee, welcomed the Government’s recognition that improved outcomes require strong partnership working across public services.

We can confirm all new metrics in the latest document are in the LG Inform database. We have updated Local Government Outcomes LG Inform report which includes all of the framework’s available metrics and highlights those that are not yet published.

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