Innovation in local government is about improving the lives of the people in our
communities. Browse through our case studies to see the many innovative programmes councils are involved
in.
Communication and Engagement Lead (Test and Trace) at Birmingham City Council (BCC), Kulvinder Naga, outlines the council’s Community Champion Programme.
The Government announced that surge testing was to take place in Norfolk on Tuesday 16 February. The testing started the following day focussing on the market towns of Diss and Roydon, which are home to around 10,000 people.
Waltham Forest Council has been working on a vaccine confidence programme, aimed at increasing take-up, particularly amongst its most vulnerable residents.
Ealing Council was among the first wave of councils asked to do surge testing after a case of the South African variant that could not be directly linked to travel was identified.
An example of a council using its Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff network to help it work towards a real culture change within the organisation on equality and diversity issues.
Surge testing started in parts of Bristol and South Gloucestershire in February after 11 cases of the UK variant with E484K mutation were identified as part of routine sampling.
Manchester City Council introduced mobile testing units in five locations across the two areas and an asymptomatic rapid testing site at Moss Side Leisure Centre was converted into a PCR testing site.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenge to local government. The Communities team at Essex County Council set up Essex Coronavirus Action Support Group (ECAS) alongside the Essex Public Health team, and in partnership with community Leaders.
‘The Bridge’ is a tool for data visualisation, designed to display public sector data and provide effective economic forecasting and market insights. Follow-on funding was granted to share the project and its learning with other councils.