With support from the James Madison Charitable Trust, we are convening a network of council leaders and senior officers from across the UK, along with other experts, to investigate the future of local public institutions. The research is taking place over a series of online discussion workshops.

New ways of working and new partnerships with local communities developed quickly in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. In many cases, this took place outside of and parallel to existing institutional structures. Furthermore, innovation and adaptation are often seen as having emerged perhaps in spite of central government, and the relationship between different regional tiers.

With the national governments in both Westminster and Holyrood developing plans for recovery, “levelling up”, and reshaping patterns of governance, this seminar will bring together colleagues from England and Scotland to share experiences and ideas.

This project will build a case for strengthening and supporting the institutions of local government so that they can accommodate new approaches, new relationships and new challenges.