LG Challenge 2011

Competitors take part in a series of real-life challenges in host authorities around the country, which test their individual and team working skills. The winner can look forward to a career-enhancing scholarship worth up to £10,000 from the Bruce Lockhart Leadership Programme, to be used to promote localism and local government through the exchange of ideas between the UK, the USA and Europe – and to put into practice successful ideas.

Challenge 1: East Dorset District Council and Christchurch Borough Council 

The brief was to analyse and present recommendations on actions the council could take to manage and change where necessary staff attitudes and behaviours in response to a change process by developing a Culture Change Plan. The plans would help to address and positively channel the various behaviours that will be exhibited by employees throughout the change process and had to include practical solutions by suggesting different mechanisms that could be used to help communicate and engage staff in the process. 

Challenge 2: Birmingham City Council 

The Birmingham challenge offered the opportunity for two local community groups to work with the local government challenge contestants. The two participating groups successful in a bidding process were Five Forward and Compass. The community groups were asked to submit ideas for a challenge that would have clear, tangible and useful outcomes for their groups going forward. 
 

Challenge 3: Department for Communities and Local Government 

DCLG had established a team of “barrier busters” who listen to local people’s ideas and work with colleagues across DCLG and the whole of Government try to solve their problems –  by cutting red tape, reducing the burden of regulation, or allowing for greater discretion in how local authorities spend taxpayer’s money. The LG Challenge teams were asked to consider a scenario where DCLG have contacted their council Chief Executive about two requests submitted to the barrier busting website by two community groups in the borough. 
 

Challenge 4: County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Authority 

There were plans for the fire station to also serve as a hub for the community, however, it was cut off from the town. The challenge asked the teams to find ways to engage residents to try and bridge the disconnect between the fire station and the community.
 

Challenge 5: Kent and Essex County Councils 

Contestants were tasked with developing a creative proposition to market the Kent and Essex Thames Gateway over the two week period of the 2012 Olympic Games and to propose linked opportunities for income generation by considering the "product" (or products) the Thames Gateway offered for a target audience of their choice. 
 

The Final 

Local Government Challenge 2011 winner

Paul Knight, Customer and Business Services Manager at South Cambridgeshire District Council, has been busy since winning the competition in 2011.