Future Councils programme identifies transformation challenges

Choosing between high priorities with limited resources, changing organisational culture, and funding innovation have been identified as among the barriers to council transformation in England.

The Local Digital team at the UK’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) pinpointed the challenges through the Future Councils pilot, which has been running with eight English local authorities since May. The programme aims to understand the recurring issues faced by councils and address common blockers.

The challenges identified are:

Defining clear prioritisation across the array of critical services councils have to deliver.
Making strong cases for investment, an...