Whole place reform vital if government to deliver ambitious national missions, Localis report urges
- New Localis report calls on the government to make it easier for local leaders to adopt proactive and preventative approaches to service provision and encourage collaborative partnership working across the public and private sector.
- The report suggests that the government could do this by restoring stability to council finances as a foundation from which to deliver on national renewal missions.
Switching now to a ‘whole place’ model of local public service reform would support the new government’s ambitious national missions and offer a unique opportunity to enact lasting change after a decade of decline among English councils, a new report published today by Localis argues.
In a report entitled ‘Heart of the matter – getting to grips with whole place transformation’, independent think-tank Localis recommends the new government should restore stability to council finances with an immediate cash injection to steady the ship for frontline service delivery before charting a course to long-term financial sustainability. The study further recommends council workforce capacity also be addressed as among the first steps to long-term radical improvements.
The report authors call for a transformative renewal of place policy that balances the optimism of devolution and community empowerment with the stark realities of fiscal constraints and persistent economic challenges. Looking back to previous attempts at place-based reform, the paper advocates a whole place approach to improving local service outcomes that focuses on:
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- empowering local leadership with long-term, stable funding to make meaningful changes.
- embedding preventative approaches by investing in upstream prevention to tackle issues at their source in a way that reduces demand on frontline services and leads to better outcomes.
- developing collaborative cultures across public, private and third sectors to create user-centred service provision.
- practicing community co-design with meaningful engagement to meet the needs of local residents.
Localis chief executive, Jonathan Werran, said: “As we stand on the brink of a major shift in how we deliver public services, this report offers a roadmap for change where it counts, that is both ambitious and grounded in the practical realities faced by local government.
“‘Heart of the matter’ is a call to action for both local leaders and central government to work together to deliver the high-quality, sustainable public services our communities deserve.
“A transformative whole-place approach can deliver high-quality, efficient local services we all wish to see. Realising the prize will require both radical reform from central government and continued innovative action from local leaders if we are to get the improvements that can build a new and secure era for people and place.”
Sean Hanson, chief executive, IMPOWER, said: “Heart of the Matter puts beyond doubt what many local leaders already know –lasting social change and inclusive economic growth is only possible if we turn the promise of whole-place transformation into a reality.”
“The report’s findings look back on what has worked in the past, including investment in prevention, collaborative partnership working, and community empowerment. The report’s proposals look ahead to an exciting age of opportunity in which place leaders have the powers and resources to deliver growth that works for everyone and for the long term.”
“We look forward to working with and supporting leaders to ensure their places are primed for growth.”