LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION & DEVOLUTION

Local government is undergoing its most significant transformation in a generation. Councils are managing Local Government Reorganisation while simultaneously Local government is undergoing its most significant transformation in a generation. Councils are managing Local Government Reorganisation, with some simultaneously establishing strategic authorities under devolution. They are creating new governance structures, continuing to deliver for communities, and meeting tight timelines, often all at once.

This presents both opportunity and risk. Managed well, these reforms can strengthen local democracy and deliver better outcomes for places. But without strong leadership, councils face service disruption, political tensions, and eroded trust. The Leadership Centre partners with senior teams to turn disruption into renewal, combining expertise in leadership and change with a place-based approach that builds adaptive capacity for transformation that lasts.

We offer two specialist, tailored, and where appropriate connected, portfolios of support crafted to help councils lead cultural and strategic transformation with dexterity and confidence.

Strategic Authorities & Devolution

Partnering with leaders to design and lead strategic authorities with clarity and ambition, unlocking innovation, strengthening partnerships, and turning devolution into real outcomes for places and communities.

Our Design Principles: Supporting Council Leaders in LGR and Devolution

These principles guide how we support council leaders through LGR & Devolution, ensuring our work delivers real impact for places and communities.

• Clarity and Adaptability
We help leaders cut through complexity with clear frameworks and adaptive approaches that respond to evolving political, financial, and community contexts.

• Co-Design with Stakeholders
Transformation succeeds when it is shaped together. We work alongside senior teams, elected members, and partners to build ownership and trust in new arrangements.

• Anchor in Place-Based Impact
Every change must deliver real benefits for communities. Our support is rooted in local priorities, ensuring governance and leadership decisions translate into tangible outcomes for places.

• Whole Leadership Ecosystem
System change is not just about top teams. We strengthen leadership capacity across political, executive, and civic spheres—creating alignment and resilience throughout the organisation and beyond.

• Communication as a Core Capability
Narrative drives confidence and legitimacy. We help leaders craft and sustain compelling stories of change that engage stakeholders and maintain public trust.

• Wise Experimentation
Reorganisation & devolution are full of unknowns. We help leaders create safe spaces for purposeful experiments that test new ways of working, build confidence, and reduce fear of failure while learning fast.

Book a Strategic Consultation

A confidential 60-minute session to explore your LGR & Devolution challenges and how we can support your leadership team. We’ll discuss your specific context and identify opportunities for tailored support.