Policy area: Local government

Reports

Admissions not impossible

This report from UK think tank the Sutton Trust urges schools to review their admissions systems to address inequalities in access. This report sets out a clear case for why fairer school admissions must be central to any serious effort to improve inclusion. Drawing on new analysis, national data and our direct work with over...

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Course correction: How to densify British cities

This report from UK think tank Centre for Cities looks at where city densification needs to occur and what policy needs to do differently. Policy attention towards densifying British cities is welcome, and this research uses data on historic neighbourhood age and Centre for Cities’ residential densities dataset to dig deeper into where densification needs...

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Beyond caring: a new funding model for later-life social care

This report from UK think tank Re-State calls for a new Later Life Care Fund to replace England's failing model for funding for older people's social care. New research from Re:State sets out the case for a fundamental overhaul of how later-life social care is funded in England, arguing that the current model is unfair,...

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Educational psychologists in England

This report from UK think tank the Education Policy Institute provides the first comprehensive national assessment of the EP workforce since the Covid-19 pandemic. 'Educational psychologists in England' provides the first comprehensive national assessment of the EP workforce since the Covid-19 pandemic. Drawing on eight years of administrative data and case studies from six local...

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AI in local government: Adoption, benefits and challenges

This report from UK think tank City-REDI examines how artificial intelligence is being adopted in local government. This report from the Local Policy Innovation Partnership provides a timely stocktake of how artificial intelligence is being adopted in local government, what benefits are beginning to emerge, and what barriers still limit wider deployment. It draws on...

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Concept to culture: A maturity model for wellbeing policy

This report from UK think tank Carnegie UK explores what a maturity model for embedding wellbeing approaches in public policy might look like. In recent years there has been a global shift in public policy, moving from traditional economic and output-based measures of government performance towards a more holistic focus on measures of wellbeing. Governments...

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Future wellbeing policy: Lessons from Wales and beyond

This report from UK think tank Carnegie UK reflects on the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act since it was enshrined in law just over ten years ago. In January 2026, the Institute of Welsh Affairs (IWA) together with Carnegie UK, the Centre for Welsh Politics and Society/WISERD, and the Co-production Network for Wales convened...

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Dialling up democracy in the 21st century: Pathways for renewal

This report from UK think tank City-REDI explores how democratic innovation can help renew trust and legitimacy in the UK’s democratic system This policy working paper explores how democratic innovation can help renew trust, participation, and legitimacy in the UK’s democratic system. Building on earlier LPIP Hub work on social value and community-centred innovation, it...

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Transport and growth: Reforming transport investment for place-based growth

This report from UK think tank IPPR argues for a shift to a system that asks how we can build more of what already works. The ability to deliver transformative public transport is not constrained by a lack of ideas, public support or local ambition. It is constrained by the way decisions are taken at...

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Around the world

This report from UK think tank Centre for Cities looks at how cities around the world operate their visitor levies and what England can learn from their experiences. Using examples drawn from a range of countries and cities from major visitor destinations such as Barcelona and Amsterdam to smaller places such as Essen, Germany and...

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Croydon calling

This report from UK think tank Centre for Cities looks at the lessons learnt from rules-based planning conducted in Croydon. This briefing analyses data from when the ‘Suburban Design Guide’ (SDG), a successful ‘experiment’ in rules-based planning conducted in Croydon from 2019 to 2022, was in place. It explains the SDG's success in raising housebuilding...

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Capital at risk: rebooting London’s governance for a new era

This report from UK think tank Re:State explores rebooting London's governance for a new era. London’s governance settlement is now more than 25 years old, designed for the capital as it was a quarter-century ago. While devolution has accelerated across England, London's governance has fossilised. City Hall is underpowered compared to its international peers and...

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Learning from the DevoLab : How devolution can improve transport connectivity

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at how devolved powers and mayoral influence have been used to improve transport connectivity. Improving transport connectivity is one of the central policy objectives of mayors across England. Mayoral strategic authorities hold a range of responsibilities for transport including producing local transport plans, regulating...

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Tackling child poverty in London

This report from UK think tank the Centre for London states that London must commit to a consistent, city-wide effort to address the root causes of child poverty. On December 5th 2025, national government released its long-anticipated Child Poverty Strategy – Our Children, Our Future: Tackling Child Poverty. This set a 10-year mission to reduce...

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Power Failure: A new theory of power

This report from UK think tank the Future Governance Forum rethinks how power operates in the British state. British politics feels stuck. In recent years, both Conservative and Labour governments have found themselves increasingly hamstrung by a web of problematic concentrations and dispersals of power, thwarting their attempts to make people’s lives better. Left feeling...

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Related Events

12 May 2026

Location: Online

Think tank: UK in a Changing Europe

UKICE Lunch Hour: Unpacking the local elections 2026

This event hosted by UK think tank the UK in a Changing Europe unpacks the local election results. On Thursday 7 May, the UK will hold a number of local, mayoral and devolved parliament elections. With Labour and the Conservatives expected to suffer heavy losses to the Greens, Reform UK and nationalist parties in Scotland...

12 May 2026

Location: Online

Think tank: PolicyWISE

A discussion about the results of the devolved elections in Scotland and Wales

This event hosted by UK think tank PolicyWISE discusses the results of the devolved elections in Scotland and Wales. The think tanks Enlighten and PolicyWise are delighted to invite you to join a discussion about the results of the devolved elections in Scotland and Wales. Both nations face the prospect of disruptive outcomes and uncertainty...

13 May 2026

Location: Online

Think tank: Localis

When the sun goes down: What problems is LGR trying to solve and what problems might it create?

This event hosted by UK think tank Localis discusses the future of local government reorganisation. The wave of local government reorganisation (LGR) heralded by the English Devolution Bill represents the most significant structural upheaval outside of central government since the 1970s. The creation of new unitary authorities is designed to increase productivity and streamline governance,...

14 May 2026

Location: Online

Think tank: Green Alliance

What’s next? Navigating environmental politics after the May elections

This event hosted by UK think tank Green Alliance discusses how the new political landscape will impact environmental politics globally and at home. A week on from the May elections and with the King’s Speech delivered, join us to digest how this new political landscape will impact environmental politics globally and at home. This reactive...