Future Local Lab
Local Government ExplainedHow the local government sector views the future
LGIU
Read the highlights of our popular preparing for 2050 event which saw local government colleagues worldwide come together. It was an invigorating discussion, including live polling, about the different challenges currently facing local government, united by what tackling–or not tackling them–means for the future of the sector and our communities.
We recently brought together LGIU partners, leading experts and sector voices from around the world to dissect what the year ahead means for the future of local government – in 2050 and beyond.
This popular event saw local government colleagues join from all over the world, from the UK to New Zealand – and at some questionable times of the day! It was an invigorating discussion about the different and universal challenges currently facing local government, united by what tackling–or not tackling them–will mean for the future of the sector and our communities.
We also had the opportunity to conduct some live polling (results below), which shows how the attendees (who represent a really good breadth and depth of the international sector of local government) are feeling about the future. The results pinpoint the challenges that they think are most daunting right now and also the ones heading our way.
Our top five highlights
1) The appetite for an international community of local government.
As speaker, Alison Allen from the North Ireland Local Government Association summarised so simply and effectively, “It takes a village.” Local doesn’t mean we should be isolated from each other and the drive for this connectivity was loud and clear in every speaker’s presentation and every part of the lively chat discussion.
2) The personal connections being made behind the scenes.
One particular quote we loved from the chat was, “We are a global team supporting local communities, and it’s lovely to be part of that!” Many others echoed this sentiment throughout the discussion, including another person who said, “It’s good to know we are a community to support each other as we do our best for our residents.”
3) Even the expert speakers felt like it was valuable.
All the speakers were very grateful to have the opportunity to engage with each other and the attendees. Alison Holloway from SGS Economics and Planning, Australia, closed by remarking that ‘she’s learned so much from the event’ and the opportunity to hear from the experience of local government colleagues in so many different places.
4) Your challenges can be both unique and universal.
There was a lot of reassurance to be found in knowing that many of the challenges ahead are universal; although they will manifest uniquely in each place, we’re still best placed to tackle them in a united way and share solutions with each other. From funding and systemic reform to climate consequences and mitigation and from demographic shifts to homelessness and housing, the issues ahead may be substantial but so is the sector’s determination to act now and get ready.
5)Local government can save the world
LGIU’s very own Chief Executive, Jonathan Carr-West, finished with his famous statement that he believes ‘local government can save the world’. You know it’s been an inspiring session of deep and meaningful discussions when those six words make an appearance.
Didn’t get a chance to attend? Don’t miss out!
Watch here and share with your colleagues, too:
The outcome from the live polling:
How do others in the sector view the future?
We asked attendees to summarise in one word what they think local government of the future will look like, this is what they said:
Do you agree? How would you summarise the future of the sector in one word? Let us know here.
The top three prioritises for local government right now
- Improving the financial sustainability of the sector
- Tackling the housing and homelessness crisis
- Investing and transforming infrastructure and services
Tell us yours here.
The top three prioritises for local government in the future
- Adapting to and mitigating climate change
- Investing and transforming infrastructure and services
- Improving the financial sustainability of the sector
Tell us what you think here.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how optimistic are you about the future of local government?
Average score: 6.4
Where do you land on this scale? Tell us here.
Help us shape the Future Local Lab programme below and be sure to sign up to stay part of this critical conversation.
Was this article helpful or relevant for you?
