Press release – publication of “Looking to 2050: The future of local government in England”

Research released today finds devolution alone does not guarantee success for local areas, and councils need clarity, coherence and a long-term plan from Government to deliver devolution at scale.

The report, from the LGIU (Local Government Information Unit) and Local Partnerships, concludes that a model of governance which improves regional economic outcomes, supports housing growth, tackles inequality, embeds fiscal sustainability and strengthens climate resilience can be built – but will require a purposeful design of roles, responsibilities and long-term direction.

Looking to 2050: The future of local government in England is informed by a sector-wide survey across all current combined authority areas, as well as in-depth interviews with senior officials, leaders and mayors. The analysis found that while there is no shortage of evidence about what works and what doesn’t work today, there is a clear lack of strategic clarity about what the system is for, and how it should evolve. While the potential of Strategic Authorities is widely recognised, their purpose remains undefined.

The new research provides a clear pathway forward with powers built from the bottom up, not handed down as rewards or withheld as punishment. It found that the starting point should be that frontline, people-centred services sit with local authorities by default; strategic authorities focus on the things that require scale and coordination; and central government sets broad frameworks, standards and long-term funding, stepping in only where necessary.

An embargoed copy of the full report is available here with the report’s key recommendations included below.

Jonathan Carr-West, Chief Executive, LGIU, said:

What we’ve found in our latest research is hugely significant as we work together to create a more coherent system capable of meeting the challenges of the next 25 years. It is clear that Strategic Authorities need a purpose, not just powers.

While there is enormous potential to drive growth, reform public services and give voice to all of England’s regions through devolution (and our research shows real enthusiasm for this), there’s a worrying lack of definition. We need to be clearer, not just about how devolution will work but what it’s actually for. 

We have the building blocks, but we now need intention. Choosing clarity, purpose, and long-term design over drift, incrementalism, and short-term fixes will build a settlement that empowers local leaders, strengthens economies, and delivers better outcomes for 2050 and beyond. We look forward to working closely with councils, sector leaders and the government to achieve this ambition.

Adele Gritten, Chief Executive, Local Partnerships, said:

This report gives us a clear roadmap, but now it’s time to act. We need to roll out integrated funding settlements that give regions the confidence to plan long-term and establish a statutory Mayoral Council to strengthen collaboration. We must move quickly to avoid locking England into a fragmented system that cannot deliver for communities or withstand the challenges ahead.

As the government’s LGR deadline approaches and the Devolution Bill makes its way through Parliament, local leaders expressed strong support for a strategic regional tier but no settled understanding of its core purpose or how it should differ across geographies. Respondents felt that while existing Strategic Authorities have raised the profile of their regions and secured investment, they have not yet become the strategic system leaders many hoped for. And, while the Bill offers greater consistency, it provides limited new powers and does not articulate a long-term destination.

The research will be formally launched this evening at the House of Commons Thames Pavilion. Clive Betts MP (Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Local Government) and Alison McGovern MP (Minister for Local Government and Homelessness) will speak, along with other leading sector experts. 

ENDS

Notes to editors

About Looking to 2050: The future of local government in England

This report, supported by Local Partnerships, draws on a sector-wide survey of 67 respondents across all current combined authority areas and 10 in-depth interviews with senior officials, leaders and mayors. The message from the findings is consistent: the potential of strategic authorities is widely recognised, but their strategic purpose remains undefined. The system lacks clarity, coherence and a long-term plan.

The report sets out 10 steps to create a coherent system by 2050.

1. Define a clear, national strategic purpose for all Strategic Authorities.

Set out a defined role for SAs as regional system leaders, coordinating policy where scale adds real value. This should be formally published to ensure national consistency, while making clear the distinction between expectations across geographies (urban, rural, coastal) and avoiding scope creep.

2. Map a functional division of responsibilities that endures.

The principle local by default, regional where beneficial, national only where necessary needs to be embedded in a cross-sector agreement between local authorities, strategic authorities and the centre. 

3. Modernise Whitehall around devolution.

Central government’s role should shift from direct management to leadership: set frameworks, monitor outcomes and develop policy missions, all in partnership with strategic authorities and councils.

4. Establish a statutory Mayoral Council for England.

Legally entrench a strengthened forum for strategic engagement between ministers and mayors.

5. Roll out integrated funding settlements nationwide.

Make multi-year departmental-style integrated settlements the default funding model for all established strategic authorities. 

6. Consolidate growth and investment programmes under strategic authorities.

Expand mayoral investment funds and bring local growth funds into a single regional investment fund for each strategic authority which will support long-term planning and be more accountable to the public.

7. Build shared regional–local governance and accountability frameworks.

Each strategic authority, together with councils, should work towards data harmonisation, aligning outcomes frameworks, sharing evidence bases,  and embedding proportionate scrutiny to align SA and council priorities.

8. Strengthen institutional resilience and system stability.

Support succession planning, multi-year budgeting, stable boundaries, robust scrutiny, and workforce planning across SAs and unitary councils to build more resilience into the system.

9. Develop a shared Collaboration Toolkit to support consistent practice.

Develop shared strategic planning templates, governance models, maturity diagnostics, dispute-resolution protocols and common data infrastructures to make collaboration systemic not dependent on personalities.

10. Set a clear pathway to 2050 using a sliding scale of ambition.

Define a long-term trajectory for England across four dimensions: economic powers, regional representation, public service responsibilities, and fiscal autonomy.

About LGIU

The LGIU is an independent, not-for-profit membership organisation working to make local democracy around the world collectively stronger, through shared ideas, resources and connections for local government. 

About Local Partnerships

Local Partnerships is an in-house public sector delivery partner jointly owned by the LGA, HM Treasury and Welsh Government. We work solely for central government departments, the Welsh Government, councils and combined authorities.

Local Partnerships delivers value and efficacy for the public purse. As a key interface between local and central government, we provide expert advice and practical resources alongside project and programme delivery support, enabling public services to thrive.

Whether supporting and accelerating the delivery of major infrastructure, tackling climate challenges through waste efficiency and renewable energy propositions through to wider place-making initiatives, we help transform services across the public sector ecosystem.