Leadership Development for Local Politicians: Evaluation of Longer-Term Outcomes and Impacts

This report details the findings of an evaluation of the LGA’s Political Leadership Development Offer (PLDO).


The PLDO includes a range of political leadership development programmes to support and develop councillors, to help ensure that local politicians are more confident and capable; well-equipped and well-supported to make a difference.

The LGA’s Improvement and Innovation Board, in November 2015, asked the Leadership and Localism Team for information on the longer-term outcomes and impact of the programmes. Working with the LGA’s Research and Information Team, the Leadership and Localism Team designed a small research project with the aim of bettering understand how learning may have become embedded and how behaviours may have changed, as a result of councillors attending at least one programme. It focused on: Leadership Essentials; Leadership Academy; Focus on Leadership; Next Generation; and The Leaders’ Programme.