As ministers who had the privilege of serving as leaders of Oldham and Camden councils, we have seen first-hand just how difficult it can be to get things done across all layers of government. All too often the systems and structures just weren't set up for the pace, complexity and technology of the modern world. But more, too often approaches are informed not by public or community interest, but organisational protectionism.

 We believe the civil service and local government is full of brilliant people who have a genuine desire to serve the public, with many themselves rooted in the communities they serve. They often end up frustrated, stuck in systems that don't work, operating in departmental siloes and forced to navigate unnecessary layers of bureaucracy and IT systems which don't talk to each other. Most worryingly, perhaps, they find themselves far too detached from the very communities they came into public service to change.