In my last blog, I talked about getting your house in order: aligning people, process and technology before the real hard yards of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) kick in.
This time, I’m reflecting on what happens when that advice lands and action follows.
What comes next?
I’ve had several conversations with senior leaders in local government recently.
Yes, there is a weight of pressure building due to what comes next. But there is also a palpable spirit around the opportunity for collaboration which is already making things happen.
From words to delivery
Over the past few months, more than 30 councils have taken part in Socitm’s LGR-focused workshops.
What’s emerged is clear: a confident, collaborative, doing-first approach to digital, data and technology.
To recap, Socitm is supporting you to:
- Benchmark your digital, data and technology (DDaT) capabilities.
- Build cross-council contract and asset registers.
- Define what your “Day 1” really looks like.
- Design shadow governance structures.
- Share quick wins, surface risks and provide ready-to-use templates.
- Exchange honest, human, and lived experiences.
This is the sector showing it can act and is ready to lead.
Confidence in action
As a former journalist what interests me is people. I’m always looking for the human angle as the hook to hang things on.
What happens when people are given permission to act?
What if people could get on without restrictions?
Where can we power progress that benefits the people and places we serve?
| I can’t put it better than quote directly from those councils we have spoken with as part ongoing engagement. |
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| “We’re mapping systems and planning integration now — not waiting for structures to be signed off.” |
| “We’ve agreed our day 1 minimum viable council. That’s our foundation.” |
| “We’ve created shared checklists, asset logs and even joint procurement strategies. We’re already ahead.” |
How’s it going in North Yorkshire and Westmorland and Furness?
- LGR North Yorkshire Council. If I knew then, what I know now: a blog post by Madeline Hoskin, Assistant Director for Technology at North Yorkshire Council.
- A survivor’s guide to LGR: an interview with Helen Blake, Assistant Director for Customer and Digital at Westmorland and Furness Council.
The message?
You can lead transformation now.
You don’t need to wait for permission.
DDaT is moving – and it’s not waiting for PowerPoints
Across the country, we have seen councils broadly sketching out a ‘three horizon’ approach for practical plans to move from legacy to future-state:
- Horizon 1: Unified front doors for residents (even when the back-ends are still messy).
- Horizon 2: Automation and smarter workflows: chatbots, CRM upgrades.
- Horizon 3: Common platforms, shared governance, data that drives insight.
At the same time, councils are logging supplier contracts, using the Cyber Assessment Framework to assess risk, and updating business continuity plans based on real LGR scenarios. Not just theoretical ones.
And while these are systems and process it’s critical to think ‘people’.
Because transformation only works if people come with you.
Councils are mapping DDaT skills, capturing and protecting “corporate memory” and building the capacity to run the new authority, it’s for the benefit of people-related outcomes.
This isn’t box-ticking. It’s about retaining knowledge, energy and insight – the kind that can easily be lost.
And if that legacy knowledge is lost, we’ll end up paying for it three times over: in consultancies, rework, and staff turnover.
And now a little plug for Socitm
As I said in my last blog: leaders, now is your time to step up.
Your future council is being built now, not later. Socitm is helping. Socitm is making things happen.
Leaders do you want to:
- Create a shared vision for DDaT across your LGR area?
- Map risks, contracts or staff skills?
- Get practical help that cuts through the noise?
We’re here to help. Talk to us and start making things happen.
Start creating positive, lasting changes in the place you live and work
Supercharge yourself and your organisation.
Join the Socitm DDaT local public services community.
- Tap into our network of professionals to solve issues, find solutions and share best practice.
- Ignite individual growth throughout your organisation with our essential, CPD-certified training.
- Access practical resources to drive your decision making and avoid reinventing the wheel.
We’re a friendly and energetic group of people (the Socitm team and our members), focused on doing our best for our communities.