Publications

We have an extensive catalogue of publications - research reports, long read articles, toolkits and best practice guidelines - that stem from our work with our member councils and other collaborations. Most publications are free to read and download as PDFs but you do need to be logged in to the website. Please sign in or set up an account if you don't already have one (this is free of charge). A few publications are for members only.

Featured:

Filter

Unlocked in lockdown

Parks and public spaces have been a balm for many during the pandemic. Share your pictures from the last year with us in a celebration of local green spaces.

Australia, England & Wales, Global, Ireland, Scotland

Bundle: International Women’s Day

This bundle brings together our relevant content on women’s role in local government as well as ideas for how councils can improve women’s position in society through policymaking, urban planning and better data.

Australia, England & Wales, Global, Ireland, Scotland

Bundle: Questions for the future of social care

Today you can read our new briefing about the so-called “Feeley” report on adult social care in Scotland. To accompany this release, we’ve included in this bundle relevant recent briefings on adult and children’s social care policy and delivery in the UK as well as the new NHS plan for England. 

Scotland

Unfinished business

Local government has been financially under resourced and the policy agenda has underserved in key areas of service, democracy and community. This latest pillar in our Post-Covid Councils project sets out a blueprint for the thinking we need to generate some vital momentum around these pieces of Unfinished Business.

England & Wales

Bundle: 20-Minute Neighbourhoods

With lockdowns imposed across the globe, Covid-19 put a magnifying glass over local infrastructure – in many cases exposing gaps and inequality. The result has been renewed enthusiasm for 20-minute cities, which prioritise local access to services. In this bundle, we dive into the urban planning ideal to provide a local government perspective.

England & Wales, Global, Ireland, Scotland

Free, fair and safe: 2021 local elections

In a comprehensive survey of council leaders, chief executives and heads of democratic services told us that we must delay local elections to the Autumn and we must do it now.

England & Wales

A wellbeing council

This communication, imagined by Laura Catchpole, from a local government leader discussing the merits of a wellbeing council, is one of the scenarios that we are exploring as part of the new municipalism pillar of our Post-Covid Councils project looking at the future of local government.

Australia, England & Wales, Global, Ireland, Scotland

The multi-democratic council

This imagining, from Kerry Ferguson, of what we are calling a multi-democratic council is one of the scenarios that we are exploring as part of the new municipalism pillar of our Post-Covid Councils project looking at the future of local government.

Australia, England & Wales, Global, Ireland, Scotland

Post-Covid councils: Towards a new municipalism

This pillar of our post-Covid councils project explores the future of local government in response to the many impacts that Covid has had on people’s lives and councils. We examine possible scenarios for how the way that local government works and delivers services might change in response to local conditions.

Australia, England & Wales, Global, Ireland, Scotland