Insights

As featured in Partnerships Bulletin Recent news reports on problems at one of the oldest PFI schemes don’t tell the full story, says Neil Okninski, senior director at Local Partnerships  A recent article on the BBC website highlighted myriad issues at Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s grouped schools PFI scheme. As the biggest PFI scheme in the […]

The government’s Devolution White Paper sets out a framework for the biggest change to local government reorganisation in a lifetime. Its proposals to transfer powers align with a broader vision for reducing regional disparities and supporting place-based innovation. Devolution to all parts of England will come with extra powers and funding flexibility, with an expectation […]

Important changes are happening from 31 March 2025: all workplaces and commercial waste collectors in England will need to follow new guidelines for recycling. If you offer or oversee a commercial waste service you need to be ready.  You will need to support your commercial customers with separate recycling collections: All businesses and non-domestic premises you […]

Effective governance and robust resourcing are critical to PFI project success. Local authorities must prioritise these to ensure strong contract management and performance monitoring. However, financial constraints mean many struggle to recruit and fund qualified officers for key PFI roles, creating risks when paired with weak governance.  A well-managed PFI project needs a dedicated contract […]

Since I joined Local Partnerships as chief executive, one question  has stuck with me: why does the public sector move so much  slower than the private sector? It’s  not a criticism of public service, as  there’s much to admire, but the pace of  progress can be frustrating.  In the private sector, decisions are  made with […]

2025 marks a pivotal year for waste and resource management. With significant policy changes underway local authorities are facing a unique set of challenges – and opportunities. In this free Navigating waste webinar on Thursday 13 February, we will help you to stay ahead of the curve and equip your team with the insights needed to navigate this […]

Last night saw the launch of Local Partnerships’ Wales Annual Impact Report. Our thanks to co-sponsors Luke Fletcher MS and Mike Hedges MS for hosting us in the Senedd, Cardiff. We were joined by guests from Welsh Government, Welsh local authorities and key stakeholders from across Wales. We were honoured that Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies attended […]

We are delighted to announce that we have just launched our Impact Report for 23-24, which demonstrates the successes we have helped our clients achieve.

No pain, no gain may be one way of describing the rationale for local government reorganisation, as heralded in the English Devolution White Paper, Power and Partnership: Foundations for Growth, issued by the Government just before Christmas but, arguably, the sector has been in discomfort for longer than has been good for it already. Perhaps […]

Our ‘preparing to transform’ webinar kick of the series last week, with the first session covering the things we’ve seen that make transformation work, as well as the issues that can become barriers to success. We were delighted to be joined by organisations from across the sector for a rich discussion and Q&A. We know how valuable […]

In this webinar on Thursday 6 February, we will build on our climate adaption toolkit to consider how authorities need to transform in response to climate change, and how thinking about climate risk and resilience can be embedded in whole organisation transformation approaches. Climate resilience is going to be a key challenge for authorities in […]

At our recent round table on artificial intelligence (AI) I was struck by a shared sentiment: a blend of cautious optimism and a clear recognition of the need for shared learning and alignment. This reflects the sector’s unique challenge of balancing the risks of new technology with the definite potential to reshape service delivery. The […]

Your PFI expiry checklist for 2026 Preparing for contract expiry is more critical than ever, with over 600 UK-based PFI projects set to expire by 2048. Nearly half of these fall between 2032 and 2037, making early action essential. Here are three priorities to kick off your planning: Can we help? Local Partnerships works alongside the […]

In this free transformation programme webinar on Thursday 16 January, we will draw on our experiences working with authorities at all stages of their transformation journey, to provide best practice and lessons learned. We’ll share the key elements that we’ve seen make transformation a success, as well as common pitfalls to avoid. There will also be a chance for Q&A and […]

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from us all at Local Partnerships! Wishing you every success in 2025 Our office will be closed 25 – 27 December inclusive and on 1 January. If your enquiry is urgent please call 020 7187 7379 Local Partnerships is an in-house public sector consultancy jointly owned by […]

At Local Partnerships, we are dedicated to supporting the public sector in driving housing growth and addressing housing challenges. Our housing offer provides tailored support for developing housing pipelines, unblocking stalled sites, enabling direct housing delivery, and much more. Whether you’re looking to accelerate housing growth, navigate regulatory challenges like nutrient neutrality, or explore innovative […]