The following checklist outlines a range of key actions that must be undertaken at each stage of the LGR process, along with links to resources that will help councils to deliver those actions.
This third guidance note focuses on the high-level principles that can be used to develop estimated expenditure, funding and balance sheet positions for the new unitary council/s.
The LGA commissioned research with councils, stakeholders, and parents and carers across 60 English local authorities. It identified effective approaches to meeting the national GLD target, alongside barriers such as deprivation and poverty, limited access to high-quality early years education and childcare, workforce shortages, poor data sharing, and gaps in support.
This guidance on social cohesion authored by Belong and endorsed by the LGA, aims to help local authorities fulfil this role. It provides local authorities with the tools to address the challenges they face and share good practice, with the goal of building cohesive communities.
For each quarter an excel sheet containing all data for each local authority and a PDF overview containing headline figures and breakdowns by region and authority type is published.
Protecting councillors and other locally elected representatives from intimidation, harassment, and violence is essential to local democracy. Operation Ford is a new policing provision aiming to strengthen protective security and policing support for councillors, elected mayors, Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and candidates for those roles.
In September to October 2025, the Local Government Association sent an online survey to all English local councils. This survey gathered insights into local authorities’ approaches to digital inclusion, including how these intersect with connectivity challenges. The findings will inform how digital inclusion aligns with local government priorities and enables the LGA to effectively advocate for the sector and identify areas where support is needed. A total 83 local authorities responded to the survey, a response rate of 26 per cent.
