The 'place-shaping' role of local government: Leicester

From Future of Local Services to the Public

Summary

A workshop was developed to help shape the LGA’s intervention in Sir Michael Lyons’ review of local government’s role, functions and finance. The LGA was determined to influence the review's conclusions by presenting a compelling case through submissions to the review and White Paper.  They claimed that a major devolution of power from national to local government would yield real and significant benefits for local people and places.

The LGA had limited time available to ground the development of its proposals in a real place, and Leicester City Council kindly agreed to host a workshop with this aim. The workshop was facilitated by the Tavistock Institute and focused on what Lyons calls the ‘place-shaping’ role of local government, including: the challenges Leicester will face in the medium-to-longer term; what Leicester can do to develop its own effective responses; and what Leicester will need from central government in order to enable it to do so. The participants were drawn from the Members and senior officers of Leicester City Council and their key partners as well as representatives of the LGA. On the basis of the workshop an initial report was made about the national implications to the LGA Executive on March 16th.

References

Hard copy of notes from workshop available