Institute for Government Local government reorganisation and public service delivery
Oct 16, 2025
Rachel Joyce, Assistant Chief Executive at North Yorkshire Council, shares insights on leading local government reorganisation, emphasizing early preparation and staff well-being. Justin Galliford from Norse Group discusses the importance of change management and supplier engagement during transitions. Liz Elliott, Deputy Chief Executive at Harborough District Council, stresses protecting critical services while balancing immediate needs with long-term vision. Professor John Denham explores how reorganisation can empower communities and reshape policy innovation, urging strong councillor involvement.
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Boundaries Shape Future Skills
- The footprint chosen shapes the skills and structures required; design boundaries for future growth, not past patterns.
- Empowerment matters because communities will lose many councillors and need meaningful roles.
Set A Clear Vision And SRO
- Create a clear vision and a change-management plan with a named senior responsible officer.
- Focus on people and culture, and treat the effort as a multi-year marathon, not a sprint.
Scale Enables Cross-Service Action
- Unitaries can deliver scale, resilience and stronger cross-service collaboration, especially between social care and housing.
- Savings can be large but transformation also speeds decision-making and national influence.