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This on-demand webinar explores how to establish and deliver an effective LGR PMO.

Covering stakeholder buy-in, flexible resourcing, practical delivery considerations, and planning beyond day one, the session also introduces our new LGR PMO toolkit and supporting resources.

The “Safe & Legal: Preparing for LGR and Vesting Day” Tool helps councils undergoing Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) identify the essential actions needed to ensure a new unitary authority is ready to operate from day one.

The tool provides a practical framework covering the key governance, legal, financial, workforce, ICT and service continuity requirements needed to ensure statutory services continue, legal obligations are met and the new council can operate safely and effectively on Vesting Day.

Designed for use by implementation bodies throughout the transition period, the tool helps councils assess readiness, identify gaps and prioritise action to ensure a smooth and compliant transition.

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.
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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.

Delivered by CHoSS in partnership with Local Partnerships, this webinar explored the role of Housing Revenue Accounts (HRAs) in supporting sustainable council housebuilding, particularly in the context of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). It covered key considerations for councils reviewing or restructuring HRAs, including governance, financial modelling, and delivery approaches.

The session examined transitions from predecessor to successor authorities, strengthening business planning, ensuring compliance with statutory and prudential frameworks, and aligning HRA strategy with wider housing ambitions. It was aimed at senior officers, finance and housing leads, and councillors involved in HRA management and structural change.

Led by Local Partnerships, the ‘viability and pipeline’ webinar focused on how councils can build stronger programme confidence by:

• Understanding the key drivers that influence viability
• Identifying why schemes stall and how to unblock them
• Prioritising sites and managing pipeline sequencing
• Strengthening programme-level risk management and decision-making

This session also highlighted how councils can access further support through CHoSS to explore viability challenges in more depth.

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.