Welcome to the Local Government Forward View where we take a look at what’s on the local government agenda in bite size chunks. It has been put together with the proficiency of our various experts.

Dominating the horizon is government intervention under the Local Government Act 1999.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) issued draft guidance on Best Value Standards and Intervention in July 2023 which reiterates the best value principles to ensure the duty is delivered. The guidance sets out:

• what constitutes best value
• the standards expected by DLUHC
• the various models of intervention.

Alongside the guidance, the Office for Local Government (Oflog) is being set up to collate data and analysis about the performance of local government, and support future improvement.

As such, DLUHC is consulting on what should be prioritised for local authorities and to ensure compliance with the new measures put in place. With the push for devolution, this accountability framework is essential to enable and ensure scrutiny, accountability and that the requisite checks and balances are in place.

Below our experts consider the current landscape of pressing issues in the local government space and make predictions how the environment may be shifting in the future:

• Combined Authorities
• Investment Zones
• Building Safety Reforms
• Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill
• Online Safety Bill
• Environmental Impact Assessments
• Procurement Bill
• Industrial action
• The conflict between trans rights and religion or belief
• Public service pension scheme reform.

How Capsticks can help

We expect all topics discussed in our Local Government Forward View 2023 to continue to develop. We will be monitoring progress and keeping you informed when anything significant takes place. Please don’t hesitate to contact our experts if you have any questions or particular concerns on the topics raised in this forward view.

Capsticks aims to be the firm of choice for organisations working within the local government sector, offering a full range of services including advising on governance, vires and constitutions, applying for and delivering large regeneration projects, updating constitutional documents, refresher procurement training and support in preparing for an upcoming employment tribunal. 

Our specialist local government advice is cost-effective and strategic, complemented by practical knowledge of your daily challenges from when our team worked in-house at local authorities.

We offer the full suite of services to Local Government clients including:

• Regeneration and Development projects
• Energy and Infrastructure
• Property and Conveyancing (including acquisitions, disposals, leases, licences)
• Construction
• Planning, Highways & Environmental
• Contracts and Commercial (i.e. Service Contracts, Facilities Management Agreements and other commercial agreements)
• Corporate structures, alternative delivery models, joint ventures and collaboration arrangements
• Procurement
• Vires and Subsidy Control
• Employment (including contracts, TUPE and disputes)
• Pensions
• Litigation – property and  contractual disputes, procurement challenges, judicial reviews
• Housing.

To discuss issues that may affect your organisation, please get in touch with Tiffany Cloynes, Head of Local Government at Capsticks.