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LGIU

Councils must be at heart of levelling up, report argues

Councils must be at the heart of the Government’s levelling up agenda, a new report has argued today.

Councils must be at the heart of the Government's levelling up agenda, a new report has argued today.

The LGiU think-tank said the Government's forthcoming White Paper must provide clarity on what the Government means by levelling up, offer complete transparency on why policy and funding decisions are made, and detail clear objectives and timescales.

It added that levelling up should go hand in hand with a decentralisation of power to local and sub-national governments, should reflect the priorities of and differences between local authorities, and must go beyond investing in hard infrastructure projects.

LGiU chief executive Jonathan Carr-West said: ‘Levelling up can only be achieved by working with councils rather than going around them.'

'It can only be effective if it is delivered in partnership with empowered and empowering councils.

'If we miss that opportunity it risks being remembered as an empty political slogan.'

LGIU

Recruiting for complexity

By Rebecca Davis | 23 July 2025

Rebecca Davis discusses why we need to hire minds, not just hands, and looks at some examples of how this strategy has been approached within the West Midlands.

LGIU

Employers and unions agree pay deal

By Paul Marinko | 23 July 2025

Local government employers and the Unison and GMB trade unions have agreed a pay deal for the sector.

LGIU

Championing the fight against poverty

By Matthew Ashton | 23 July 2025

Professor Matthew Ashton says Cheshire and Merseyside’s collaborative approach to addressing poverty and cutting health inequalities is not just good public ...

LGIU

The politics of process

By Jonathan Carr-West | 23 July 2025

Local government reorganisation offers an opportunity to deliver better services – and it must be seized, writes Jonathan Carr-West.

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