Case studies

Worcestershire County Council saw a need to develop improved foresight relating to demands on its health and welfare services in response to the pandemic.

In December 2020, Worcestershire County Council (WCC) successfully bid for £885,687 grant funding from the Government’s Salix Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) to fully fund several energy efficiency and renewable energy projects across WCC’s estate.

Worcestershire County Council have undertaken the development of a tourism strategy to aid economic recovery and growth by undertaking research to understand and develop its tourism offer. Developing a branding strategy also underpins this work in order to promote what Worcestershire is known for more widely and to attract new visitors to the county and make the visitor economy a success.

The challenge to meet net zero ambitions relies on a shift towards electrically heated properties. A key issue is how to bring fuel poor households along on this journey to net zero without making heating their homes even less affordable for them.

Worcestershire County Council commissions a specialist loneliness service. People referred in are assigned case workers who support them to access local activities as well as helping to build up their confidence. More than 900 people have been helped over the last 18 months.

Worcestershire County Council declared a climate emergency in July 2021. Under the council’s Sustainability Policy, the council has committed to not only reducing their own operational carbon footprint but also to support businesses and other Worcestershire organisations to improve their environmental performance too.

In England, the current skills and employment system consists of at least 49 national employment and skills related schemes or services managed by nine Whitehall departments. No single organisation is responsible for coordinating this activity locally. However, with adequate resources local government can deliver. Our local government partners across the UK are already on a path to achieving this.

Work Local is the Local Government Association (LGA)’s positive vision for an integrated and devolved employment and skills service – bringing together information, advice and guidance alongside the delivery of employment, skills, apprenticeships and wider support for individuals and employers. This case study highlights how Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council worked together to implement a similar approach.

Central Government is promoting the role of staff-led mutuals in the delivery of public services.