2025 was a big year for local government, and 2026 looks set to be just as huge.

In the latest episode of The Local Authority the LGC news team tries to make sense of it all and looks ahead to 2026.

@kirstyweakley.bsky.social @martinrgeorge.bsky.social

www.podbean.com/ep/pb-5d89t-...

The highlight of my first day at Labour conference, watching a bunch of game but slightly embarrassed council leaders sporting their new ‘build baby baby’ hats. Wearing them a 3 line whip from the new SoS apparently

Free event – 21st Century Councillors Councillors and council staff keen to influence the role of elected members following local government reorganisation are invited to share their views at a free event.

Are you a councillor thinking about how your role could change following LGR?

Join a free to attend event on 4 November featuring @jesstud.bsky.social, Mel Stevens of @cfgs.bsky.social and @catherinemangan.bsky.social

Find out more and sign up here 👇

www.lgcplus.com/politics/gov...

JP Spencer: Address structural issues to rebalance country | Local Government Chronicle (LGC) The government must build a new approach on the bedrock of local and regional government, writes the director of devolution at Labour Together. In last

Have written for the Local Government Chronicle on how to rebalance the country.

A more balanced country with places having the autonomy and resources to deliver for themselves can be the foundation of national renewal.

www.lgcplus.com/politics/dev...

@sarahcalkin.bsky.social

Dispatch from the DCN: Radical reform and gruesome metaphors | Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Without further guidance on which proposals to take forward it is likely most areas will be working up at least two or three competing visions, writes LGC

"I can't take another meeting with baby civil servants"...

Telling quote from a district chief exec in this piece by @sarahcalkin.bsky.social.

One of the problems with the scale of reorganisation is there won't be enough senior civil servants to do the engagement.

www.lgcplus.com/politics/lgc...

Cancelled elections expose an unusual alignment The government believes devolution will help restore trust in politics, but it must tread carefully,...

The government believes devolution will help restore trust in politics, but it must tread carefully - my LGC Briefing on the politics of yesterday’s decision to cancel nine council elections to fast track local government reorganisation www.lgcplus.com/politics/dev...

Sarah Longlands: Devolution white paper risks growing nowhere Devolution is about connecting political decision making to the emotional importance of place, write...

My thoughts on the English devolution question and what it means for place - LGC

*Paywall*

@sarahcalkin.bsky.social

www.lgcplus.com/politics/dev...

The many ways to be an Essex girl With Essex expected to join the devolution and reorganisation priority programme, LGC's head of cont...

We're still waiting to find out which areas are going to be on the devolution priority programme, which means I got to spend this afternoon writing about what it means to be an Essex girl www.lgcplus.com/politics/lgc...

Made it at last. Seems nice 👋