Title

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

Reorganisation, Reform and devolution

By Ann McGauran | 02 October 2025

Change is rippling through local government, from structural reform and new combined authorities, to health integration and the push for financial sustainabi...

LGIU

Stability, partnership and delivery

By Sir James Cleverly | 02 October 2025

As delegates prepare to head to the Conservative party conference, Sir James Cleverly highlights the pressures councils face on asylum, funding, housing and ...

LGIU

The essential role of agencies in council's recruitment and retention

By Cieran Donnelly | 02 October 2025

At a time of ongoing change, temporary staff can fulfil a vital role in maintaining the high performance of your organisation – and strategic agency partners...

LGIU

Beyond the call of statutory duty

By James Farr | 01 October 2025

James Farr explains why combined authorities should go the extra mile to tackle the post-16 education capacity crunch.

Popular articles by Laura Sharman