From core services to civic leadership: five takeaways on the future of local government

Speakers – Victoria MacKirdy, CEO, Victor Harbour City Council, South Australia; Tommy Moylan, Executive Director, Association of Irish Local Government; and Dr Helen Patterson,Chief Executive, Northumberland County Council, UK – reflected on a shared reality: councils are no longer just service providers. They are convenors, advocates, crisis responders and long-term place-shapers.

Five key takeaways

1. Global shocks now arrive locally — fast

Whether it is conflict affecting fuel prices, climate events, housing pressure, coastal damage or public health emergencies, councils are increasingly where global issues “come home to roost”. In Northumberland, rurality, fuel dependence and ageing communities make international instability immediately local. In Victor Harbor, algal blooms, coastal storms and environmental change are already affecting tourism, infrastructure and livelihoods.

2. Councils are expected to do more with less

The panel repeatedly returned to the tension between growing expectations and constrained resources. Communities often look to councils first because they are visible, accessible and trusted. Yet local government is also managing cost-shifting, limited revenue, grant competition and rising demand for services. The challenge is not simply financial; it is about deciding what councils can realistically sustain.

3. “Roads, rates and rubbish” is no longer enough

Panellists pushed back strongly against narrow definitions of local government. Roads, waste and core infrastructure remain essential, but communities also expect councils to support wellbeing, culture, resilience, public spaces, environmental protection and economic development. Public art, tree canopy, libraries, transport access and community partnerships were framed not as extras, but as part of what makes places liveable.

4. Local democracy needs support to adapt

Changing political dynamics are reshaping council decision-making. In the UK, new councillors, minority control and more fragmented politics are making governance more complex. The discussion highlighted the importance of induction, training and helping elected members understand both their local mandate and their collective responsibility. Councils must listen deeply — but also be able to make difficult, evidence-based decisions.

5. The future is still deeply human

Technology and AI may streamline back-office processes and improve customer experience, but they will not replace the human relationships that define local government. Speakers stressed the importance of trust, local knowledge, community connection and public service. The sector’s future lies in blending efficiency with empathy: enabling communities to help themselves, while keeping citizens at the centre of every decision.

A resource pack – including a recording of the session – is available for LGIU councils.

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