Resource Type: Toolkit
With recent heatwaves, wildfires, and droughts highlighting the growing impacts of climate change, it’s more important than ever for councils to understand and prepare for climate risks. Explore our two newly updated climate adaptation resources, both revised and refreshed to reflect the CCC’s Fourth Independent Assessment of UK Climate Risk (CCRA4-IA).
The UK Government has committed to reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2050, and 70% of local authorities in the UK have declared a climate emergency. Net zero cannot be achieved without adaptation.
Adaptation (in climate change context) is otherwise known as resilience or preparedness. Resilience is the ambition, adaptation is the method.
We need to adapt to the challenges that arise from the significant climate impacts we are facing in the UK, and take advantage of the opportunities.
Risk and Opportunities Matrix
Following user feedback we have updated the previously named risk register generator.
In addition to our Climate Adaptation Toolkit for Local Authorities,the first of our sector specific accompanying guidance is the Strategic Resilience and Adaptation Guidance for Local Highways Authorities
This guidance suite has been produced by Local Partnerships alongside associated guidance developed by the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (Operational Framework Guidance, and Operational Checklists Responding to climate disruption).
The content has been co-created with the sector and draws on a range of key sources including the Department for Transport’s Transport Hazard Summaries, outputs from the UK Roads Liaison Group’s 2025 regional resilience workshops, and an expert review workshop held at CIHT on 8 June 2026.
This guidance follows the approach in the Climate Adaptation Toolkit for Local Authorities, and is best used alongside this toolkit, the CIHT operation guidance and the Met Office Local Authority Climate Service (LACS)
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) represents one of the most complex transformation programmes a group of councils can undertake. The scale of change spanning governance, people, assets, systems and services requires a structured approach to programme management.
A Programme Management Office (PMO) provides a centraln anchored function to coordinate, support and oversee this work, helping to ensure that the objectives of LGR are delivered while achieving “safe and legal” on vesting day. This toolkit sets out how councils can use a PMO to support LGR. This can be done through setting up a new dedicated cross-council arrangement or adapting current resources. In both cases a collaborative structure will be required.
Additionally, existing PMOs will need to ensure that business as usual continues alongside demands of LGR. It is important to note that every LGR journey is uniquely shaped by local context, geography, political landscape and the nature of the reorganisation itself therefore one approach will not fit all.
This guidance has been designed and shaped by councils who have developed and operated PMO functions within LGR environments – with many thanks to them for the insights and shared experience.
The Navigating Highways Services through Local Government Reorganisation Toolkit is a practical resource developed by ADEPT in partnership with Local Partnerships to support local highway authorities through the challenges and opportunities of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).
Drawing on Local Partnerships’ experience supporting councils through complex transformation programmes, alongside insight and expertise from ADEPT members, the toolkit provides step-by-step guidance, practical checklists and strategic advice to help authorities manage the transition to new unitary structures.
Please note: a fully accessible version of the toolkit is coming soon. Please contact us if you would like to be alerted when it releases.
Replay – NISTA and Local Partnerships host a practical free webinar ‘Decarbonising PFI projects: Tools and templates for councils’ introducing new tools to help public bodies decarbonise operational PFI projects.
UPDATED – Housing Delivery Vehicles Toolkit March 2026
It is estimated there are more than 200 councils in the UK who have already established housing delivery vehicles. With housing issues arguably more at the forefront of local government thinking than for a generation, many councils – whether they have established them or not – are reviewing their activities in this area.
Housing Delivery Vehicle Toolkit
In response to this clear need from the sector, we have relaunched an updated version of our Housing Delivery Vehicle Toolkit. It is free to download.
We also ran a webinar about ‘The future of housing delivery vehicles’ webinar. Our team of experts discussed on the following; considerations in establishing delivery vehicles, how to review progress and the experience so far: lessons learned and good practice. Please find the replay below as well.
In collaboration with the LGA, our Local Partnerships LGR experts have created a comprehensive guide for councils navigating local government reorganisation and devolution.
CMPP Housing tools have been developed to ensure they are relevant and useful to Council Housing teams and those working around Housing functions.
CMPP is a partnership to support good practice in contract management offering training, networking and direct support. Accredited training is provided through the Cabinet Office, whilst Crown Commercial Services and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have provided resources to enable Local Partnerships to provide wrap-around support for participating councils.
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) is transforming how waste and resource services are delivered, bringing complex challenges around contracts, infrastructure, staff, and service continuity. Our Navigating Waste and Resource Services through LGR Waste Toolkit provides both strategic and operational guidance, offering clear frameworks, checklists, and practical tools to help authorities manage change confidently and effectively.
Watch the webinar replay below and use the ‘Download Resources’ tab to download the LGR Waste Toolkit.
The Transformation and Innovation Exchange (TIEx) self-assessment tool provides a structured approach for councils to assess their performance against the critical success factors and key transformation characteristics of a high-performing local authority. Through a set of focused statements, TIEx enables teams to reflect on their current capabilities, identify areas for development, and highlight where additional support may be needed.
This toolkit is designed to help councils confidently deliver their own Transformation Challenge Review, a two-workshop process guided by the TIEx framework.
Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) and Local Partnerships have worked together to bring you a new Business Process Mapping toolkit for procurement teams.
The Business Process Mapping toolkit is free and available for all councils to use.
Community Benefits Toolkit – Using renewable energy benefits to enable communities
This toolkit is designed to help local communities and authorities navigate the opportunities presented by large-scale renewable energy and grid infrastructure projects. As the UK moves towards greater energy independence, ensuring that communities share in the benefits is crucial. Over the next decade, more than £1 billion in community benefits will be available, creating a significant opportunity to drive forward local projects.
Navigating waste policy toolkit
2025 is a defining year for waste and resource management, bringing major policy shifts that will reshape the way local authorities operate. To support councils in navigating these changes with confidence, we’ve launched the Navigating Policy Toolkit—a free resource designed to help local authorities understand evolving policies, plan strategically, and lead effectively during this transformational time.
Watch the webinar replay below and use the ‘Download Resources’ tab to download the Navigating waste policy toolkit.
Commercial waste services are a vital component of effective Recycling and Waste Management strategies, directly influencing the reputation, operational efficiency, and financial health of local authorities.
Optimising these services can lead to significant improvements in performance and financial outcomes for local councils.
The Commercial Waste Toolkit is designed to support local authorities in evaluating and enhancing their commercial waste operations. A well-structured commercial waste service not only enhances service delivery but also drives profitability, market share, and adaptability to future policy changes. At Local Partnerships, we have a proven track record of helping local authorities successfully navigate these critical transitions.
This Commercial guidance and toolkit is intended to take councils through a structured and robust approach to considering commercial activity.
Following this introduction, there is an overview of key overarching considerations setting out what commercial means for councils and how this can be achieved.
The overview is followed by five stages representing a commercial journey. These cover the commercial lifecycle from developing a commercial strategy through to reviewing success and addressing issues that reviews may highlight. Below each of these main sections there is more detailed guidance providing additional information around subjects such as the skills, capability, culture and structure of your service/s.
A new toolkit for local authority funding bid preparation in advance of the next round of the Levelling Up Fund has been launched. It will help councils improve the quality of their Levelling Up Fund bids and select projects that are most likely to succeed in attracting an award.
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