Report

Restoration and resilience

This report from UK think tank Localis examines the critical challenges facing local authorities in the South East and advocates for targeted strategies that align with the region’s unique needs.

The South East of England, often perceived as a beacon of affluence and economic success, presents a paradoxical challenge to policymakers. Beneath its reputation as a prosperous and ‘overheated’ economic hub lie stark inequalities and financial pressures that are increasingly testing the resilience of local governance.

A decade of austerity has eroded the capacity of councils to deliver dependable services, with many resorting to minimum statutory provision to survive. Amid this backdrop, the need for a nuanced devolution and policy framework that addresses the South East’s diverse and complex realities has never been greater.

Restoration and resilience examines the critical challenges facing local authorities in the South East and advocates for targeted strategies that align with the region’s unique needs. By exploring approaches to capacity-building, collaborative governance, and tailored devolution, it sets out a roadmap for sustainable service delivery and regional renewal.

The research underscores the importance of empowering councils with enhanced fiscal powers, data-driven decision-making capabilities, and robust partnerships to mitigate disparities and foster resilience. This work seeks to provide a foundation for informed, strategic interventions that can transform the region and its constituent local authorities into a model of sustainable and equitable governance.