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.

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Local government honours the memory of Queen Elizabeth II

Around the world, local government acts as a locus of remembrance and grief. Here we collect examples of how Queen Elizabeth II has been honoured by local government officials and institutions and how they also provide a centre for local people to express their grief.

England & Wales, Global, Scotland

Local government workforce and capability planning

Effective workforce planning and development is essential for local government to ensure they have the capacity and capability to deliver services to communities and meet future challenges. At the same time, local councils are significant employers and play an important role in their local economies. While the powers and responsibilities of local government differ across…

Australia, England & Wales, Global With case study

Devometrics: How to measure decentralisation – objective and subjective approaches

In this second paper looking at the decentralisation of power in UK governance the authors look at the challenges we face in developing measures that will capture the diversity and nuances of the governance system. They discuss possible ways of dealing with those challenges, focussing on the policy sphere.

England & Wales, Scotland
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How to write a plan

How to write a plan is part of our Resources for new councillors hub. Introduction This handy guide was written by LGIU Associate Felicity Burton, a local government policy professional based in Scotland. She has years of experience writing, reviewing and supporting councillors to write plans. On 5 May 2022, 200 new councils were elected…

England & Wales, Scotland
Members

Primer: Housing

This Primer provides a detailed introduction to local authority housing issues; key topics covered include homelessness, house building and renting. It is written with new councillors in mind but should also be useful to others new to local government or wanting to find out more about housing.

England & Wales, Scotland
Members

Primer: The planning system

This primer introduces the planning process, common terms and phrases and details current issues within the planning system. It is part of a series of primers, covering key local authority subjects, which are aimed particularly at new councillors to help them settle into the role.

England & Wales, Scotland