Delivering Regeneration: How collaborative contracts are transforming place-making
Discover how collaborative contracting is helping councils deliver regeneration more effectively with this free special report from LocalGov and NEC Contracts.
London Mayor launches £12m AI fund for small businesses
6/8/2026 Mayor Sadiq Khan has unveiled a £12m programme to help London's small businesses adopt artificial intelligence (AI), announced today at London Tech Week. |
Information watchdog to publish guidance for councils on procuring AI
6/2/2026 The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is set to publish guidance to support councils and other public bodies on procuring artificial intelligence (AI) tools. |
Almost one in three voters saw ‘deepfake’ AI content of candidates ahead of local elections
6/1/2026 A survey has found that 30% of voters saw a deepfake or AI-generated video, audio, clip or image about an election candidate or politician online in the run up to this May’s local council elections. |
Key Cities dominate UK's fastest-growing online presence rankings
5/21/2026 Six of the 10 UK cities with the fastest-rising online presence belong to the Key Cities network, according to new analysis from consultancy ING. |
New videos to help councils tackle deepfake threat launched
5/20/2026 The LGA has released a series of free videos to help councillors and council officers identify and respond to the threat posed by deepfakes. |
Three quarters of public sector leaders report severe financial strain
5/19/2026 Financial strain across the public sector is reaching crisis levels, with leaders warning it has become a daily reality for frontline services, study finds. |
Stoke-on-Trent explores AI solutions to prevent resident debt
5/14/2026 Stoke-on-Trent Council is considering using artificial intelligence (AI) software to support tenants who are struggling to pay their rent. |
Policymakers urged to scrutinise AI productivity claims
5/11/2026 Claims AI will deliver significant productivity gains in public sector are shaping spending decisions, but evidence underpinning them is weak, report says. |
Turning AI ambition into results in local government
5/6/2026 Stuart MacDonald, COO at TechnologyOne, argues that councils embracing AI must get the basics right first or else risk technology accelerating inefficiencies. |
ICO issues guidance on AI-generated FOI requests
5/6/2026 The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has published new guidance to help councils manage the growing volume of FOI requests being generated using AI. |
Fighting the Fakes: The battle against AI disinformation
4/17/2026 The Electoral Commission has launched a deepfake detection pilot ahead of May's elections. LocalGov's editor William Eichler finds out how it works. |
AI could save Cambridgeshire CC from future potholes
4/7/2026 Cambridgeshire County Council is to begin using artificial intelligence (AI) to combat its £800m road maintenance backlog. |
Making AI work for women: A leadership opportunity for local government
3/12/2026 Artificial intelligence (AI) is arriving in local government bringing challenges and opportunities, which will transform the workplace and affect women in particular, says Anna Triponel, human rights expert and the founder of Human Level. |
Report finds uneven AI readiness across councils
3/10/2026 A major new study has revealed a mixed picture of artificial intelligence (AI) readiness among local councils across the UK. |
Residents reminded to stay alert amid AI phone scams
2/18/2026 Northumberland County Council has warned residents to report suspicious phone calls following the rise of a new scam that uses AI-generated voice cloning. |
Future Sheffield: How one city council is upskilling its workforce
2/13/2026 Facing rising demand and tighter budgets, Sheffield City Council is upskilling its workforce through a Data Academy delivered by Multiverse. LocalGov reports. |
Call for stronger governance of AI transcription in social work
2/12/2026 AI transcription tools are being rapidly adopted across social work but evaluation frameworks are ‘limited’, raising governance concerns, researchers warn. |
Bury Council ponders using AI for budget gains
2/6/2026 Bury Council is considering implementing AI to boost service efficiency and close budget gaps. |
AI skills push aims to equip 10m workers by 2030
1/28/2026 The Government has launched an expansion of free AI training for workers, including local government employees, aiming to upskill 10 million people by 2030. |
Mayor hits back after fake AI video
1/20/2026 The Mayor of Gloucester criticises ‘online stunts’ after a fake, AI-generated video was published amid a row over the city’s finances. |
Why upskilling the workforce is mission-critical
1/15/2026 Local government’s digital future depends on its people — and councils like Sheffield are proving that investing in data skills is the fastest way to deliver. |
Council launches AI-informed flood planning trial
12/5/2025 Northumberland County Council is trialling AI-enabled technology to support more efficient flood planning decisions. |
From Ambition to Action: how to turn digital vision into reality
11/28/2025 James Towner, ArvatoConnect, argues that while public sector digital transformation is advancing, true value lies in turning ambition into measurable outcomes. |
Digital Transformation, AI and Local Government: The Case for Workforce Upskilling
11/14/2025 The new LocalGov and Multiverse report explores how workforce upskilling is driving smarter, more efficient, and inclusive local government transformation. |
EXCLUSIVE: AI set to help decide local government reorganisation
11/4/2025 Ministers have been warned AI cannot replace ‘robust' analysis, with Whitehall planning to use the technology to help decide local government reorganisation. |
AI chatbot to offer 24-hour adult social care support
10/28/2025 Bradford Council has rolled out a new AI platform to boost adult social care services. |
AI in Local Government: Success, ROI and real efficiency
10/21/2025 AI is transforming local government. But councils must balance efficiency with ethics, transparency, and citizen trust, says Matt Culpin of IEG Group. |
Medway’s care services boosted by AI technology
10/14/2025 An AI-driven care system is enabling Medway Council to deliver support to residents in their homes. |
Council backs facial recognition surveillance system
9/19/2025 Members of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham’s cabinet have backed AI-enabled facial recognition cameras in the borough. |
AI home care tool could ease health service strain
9/16/2025 An AI-enabled medical app could reduce the burden on overstretched local health services. |
AI’s role in keeping citizen services human-centric
9/11/2025 AI in local government contact centres isn’t replacing staff—it’s empowering them, says Afshin Attari, Senior Director of Public Sector at Exponential-e. |
Future Forum Midlands: Councils urged to prepare for AI 'wave'
9/11/2025 Councils should be doing more to prepare for the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on their organisations, an expert has urged. |
From Referrals to Results: Tackling community pressures digitally
9/4/2025 Basildon is using digital tools to streamline referrals and track outcomes–helping staff deliver better support, says Rob Manser, head of revenues & benefits. |
Council to review controversial £500k AI deal with Palantir
9/4/2025 Coventry City Council will review its £500,000-a-year contract with US data firm Palantir, following concerns over the company’s reported links to the IDF. |
Council defends £500k AI deal with Palantir
9/1/2025 Coventry City Council has defended a £500,000-a-year AI contract with US data company Palantir, which supplies technology to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). |
Rayner faces legal challenge over AI data centre on green belt
8/21/2025 Legal action has been launched challenging Angela Rayner’s decision to approve a major data centre on green belt land. |
Calls for AI ethics and data ethics boards
8/13/2025 Calls have been made for all councils to form artificial intelligence (AI) ethics and data ethics boards. |
AI-based gender bias could thwart care delivery, research finds
8/11/2025 Issues of gender bias bred by the use of AI tools could threaten councils’ delivery of care services, a study has revealed. |
Protecting the public: How Martyn’s Law challenges local government to step up
8/6/2025 Martyn’s Law makes councils legally responsible for protecting public venues from terrorism. Learn how local government must respond—and why it can’t wait. |
From Promise to Practice: Turning Care Technology Insight into Better Lives
8/5/2025 Councils can improve adult social care by embedding digital care technology insight into practice—boosting outcomes, reducing costs, and scaling what works. |
10 Ways Councils Are Using AI to Transform Public Services
7/31/2025 Councils are increasingly adopting AI-based solutions to improve services. LocalGov Assistant editor Izzy Lepone has collected 10 innovative case studies. |
AI-enabled CCTV to fight fly tipping
7/31/2025 AI-enabled CCTV cameras are to be introduced by East Riding of Yorkshire Council to help reduce fly tipping. |
Council hit with concerns about AI data centre proposals
7/29/2025 A council has received objections to development plans for an AI data centre due to concerns about water supply. |
Experts call for slice of AI cash
7/2/2025 Councils should get a share of the £2bn announced for artificial intelligence (AI) in the Spending Review, experts have suggested. |
AI use increases but barriers remain
6/10/2025 Artificial intelligence (AI) use among councils is increasing, but one in 10 are still not using any forms of the technology, a survey has found. |
The £37,000 SEND Problem
6/10/2025 Natalie Kenneison, COO at Imosphere, argues that the real SEND funding crisis isn’t just about budgets - it’s about the systems behind the decisions. |
AI trial could reduce care waiting times for vulnerable children
5/27/2025 Somerset Council has announced an AI trial that could accelerate the production of special educational needs reports for children. |
AI ‘Humphrey’ to help councils cut costs
5/27/2025 Twenty-five local authorities are trialling a new AI tool called ‘Minute’ to help speed up admin tasks in areas such as planning and social care. |
Councils call for support to roll out AI in pothole war
5/23/2025 The use of AI and a preventative approach to road maintenance can help local authorities detect potholes earlier and reduce the repairs backlog, LGA says. |
Local authority launches robot pilot project in schools
5/9/2025 Wakefield Council is set to trial a pilot project involving robots, enabling students to engage in school remotely. |
AI tools could save councils £8bn
5/7/2025 The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) tools could save local authorities in England and Wales £8bn a year, think tank says. |
Council signs up to AI trial
4/11/2025 West Berkshire Council has been named as one of 25 local authorities to take part in a government-led artificial intelligence (AI) trial. |
Government push for AI growth
3/4/2025 AI is here and it is shaping our lives and our society. Chris Holmes, Baron Holmes of Richmond, discusses AI regulation. |
Two ways to improve local authority finances
3/3/2025 The NAO has concluded insufficient action has been taken to address weaknesses in council finances. Teams from TLT LLP consider what councils should do next. |
Lack of staff and funding hinder AI progress
2/26/2025 County councils have warned that insufficient staff capacity and training and a lack of funding are hindering the roll-out of artificial intelligence (AI). |
Putting people at the heart of AI adoption
2/20/2025 Dean Collins, AI expert at PA Consulting, says we need to re-think the ‘people aspect’ if AI’s benefits are to be felt by care providers and communities. |
AI and the Pothole Crisis: Learning from 'Down Under’
2/4/2025 Leo Hanna, executive vice president UK at TechnologyOne, looks at what the UK can learn from Australia when it comes to using AI to identify potholes. |
Union criticises council’s plan to use AI to cut jobs
1/30/2025 UNISON has criticised Dorset Council’s decision to use AI in its transformation programme to help reduce the number of staff it employs. |
Community Engagement Company Commonplace Acquired by Zencity to Expand UK Platform Capabilities
1/30/2025 Zencity, a global leader in community engagement platforms, has announced its acquisition of UK engagement software company Commonplace. |
Council signs off on Europe’s biggest AI data centre
1/27/2025 Hertsmere Borough Council has granted outline planning permission for a £3.75bn data centre which promises to deliver thousands of new jobs. |
Surrey gets ahead of the pothole game with switch to AI
1/16/2025 Surrey County Council is thought to be the first council in the UK to move away from manual inspections and solely use AI technology to log pothole repairs. |
The AI opportunity for government is now
1/15/2025 After Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the Government’s AI ambitions this week, Russell Goodenough, head of AI for CGI in the UK and Australia, discusses the benefits AI could bring to the UK’s public sector. |
Metro mayors back digital transformation
1/13/2025 A study of the manifestos of 12 UK metro mayors has revealed ‘clear alignment’ around digital transformation goals. |
Councils to join AI drive
1/13/2025 Local government will be asked to assist in a drive to develop the infrastructure and skills needed to harness the potential of artificial intelligence (AI). |
Call for national taskforce to ‘urgently’ reform AI procurement
11/13/2024 Ministers have been urged to establish a national taskforce to ‘urgently’ reform the procurement of AI in local government. |
Invision360 secures Innovate UK smart grant for VITA EHCP generator
10/30/2024 Introducing VITA: Invision360’s groundbreaking AI platform, designed to drastically improve the SEND system by generating quality-assured EHCPs. |
Councils lack adequate support on AI, research finds
9/30/2024 Local authorities are being left without adequate support to procure AI in the public interest, according to new research. |
Blyth to be site of biggest AI data centre in Europe
9/26/2024 A £10bn investment aimed at delivering the biggest AI data centre in Europe could create thousands of jobs for the local community in Blyth, PM says. |
Care homes invited to adopt AI solutions
9/24/2024 Care homes in Dorset and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are being invited to take part in an initiative that uses AI to enhance resident monitoring. |
Award-winning Caseload Manager outperforms expectations, as tenancies under management near one million
7/22/2024 Voicescape’s award-winning technology, Caseload Manager, has outperformed expectations, doubling in size in the last 12 months. |
App data 'suggests 11.5 million potholes in UK'
7/2/2024 There are five times more defects on British roads than previous estimates, according to data from a dashboard app that uses AI technology. |
Could tackling fraud help cash-strapped councils?
6/3/2024 Colin Gray, principal consultant at SAS UK, looks at the role of tackling fraud when it comes to helping local authorities get their finances in order. |
Talking AI in Aberdeen
5/30/2024 Andy MacDonald, Executive Director of Corporate Services at Aberdeen City Council shares his insights and advice on generative AI adoption in local government. |
Thinking of integrating AI into your council?
4/3/2024 Robin Denton, director of local government, Microsoft UK sets out what you need to know. |
Lack of AI policies could have 'catastrophic consequences'
2/28/2024 More than three out of four UK councils do not have usage policies for artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace, according to FOI data. |
Socitm: Public sector services must primarily become digital
1/22/2024 Despite extreme pressures on finances and staffing, public sector services must primarily become digital in everything they do, according to a new report from Socitm. |
AI robot could help address ‘pothole crisis’
11/23/2023 A self-guiding robot capable of identifying and repairing potholes using artificial intelligence (AI) technology could help tackle the blight of potholes. |
Data Automation & AI Conference for Local Authorities
11/2/2023 A free Local Authority conference being hosted by Data Analytics specialists, Destin Solutions, later this month promises to shine the spotlight on how ground-breaking data optimisation and artificial intelligence solutions represent the future of Council revenue generation and minimising loss. |
How AI surveys show councils need a new approach on litter
10/31/2023 Gavin Ellis, co-founder and director of Hubbub, discusses how litter survey projects on Glasgow and Cardiff roads suggest that a new approach is needed by local authorities. |
Local authorities and the AI revolution
8/24/2023 Stephen Almond, Information Commissioner’s Office, discusses what councils have to consider when it comes to artificial intelligence (AI). |
AI cameras installed in Birmingham to catch fly-tippers
8/2/2023 Birmingham City Council has installed three new artificial intelligence (AI) CCTV cameras in a bid to tackle fly-tipping. |
How AI can assist councils with social housing allocations
5/30/2023 Charlie Green, Comparesoft, looks at how incorporating machine learning with asset management can help councils manage social housing allocation. |
Guide to the use of AI in social care published
3/6/2023 A new guide has been launched to help councils and social care providers avoid common pitfalls when introducing new technology into adult social care. |
Westminster council to trial AI in fight against fly-tipping
2/27/2023 Westminster City Council is set to trial the use of artificial intelligence to tackle fly-tipping. |
Local government must look to new technology approaches in 2023
12/9/2022 In the face of unprecedented budgetary and security pressures, local government needs to look for new ways to implement and manage solutions. Richard Hartill reports. |
How intelligent AI technology can transform road safety and reduce near misses
11/10/2022 Mark Nicholson explains how computer vision can better equip our roads to spot and reduce near misses, casualties and transform road safety. |
Equality regulator to monitor racist AI
9/1/2022 Equality regulator is set to start monitoring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by councils to ensure technologies are not discriminating against people. |
Citizen 4.0 - The future of local public services
7/27/2022 Matt Culpin explains how local authorities can use big data to predict demand for public services. |
With risk comes reward
4/27/2022 In a post-pandemic world, will local authorities be more willing to embrace future risk and accept the existence of unknown threats? Christopher Walker reports. |
Moving beyond digital service delivery in local government
1/11/2022 Ved Sen outlines how councils can harness data to improve lives. |
Why councils need to embrace data driven communication and automation
1/4/2022 Tom Shrive calls on councils to embrace new workflow and automation technology to save money and improve customer satisfaction. |
Accelerating local government’s transition to net zero with AI-enabled procurement
10/22/2021 Muhammad Malik explains how local government can harness AI technologies to streamline the cost of procuring renewable energy without impacting daily operations. |
Harnessing the power of innovation to ensure that nobody is left behind
4/12/2021 Paul Duan explains how a new online coach is helping to make training and careers advice more targeted and accessible. |
Why green will be the next tick box for procurement
2/23/2021 Richard Lilwall explains how AI can be used to help councils develop their green fleet strategies. |
Five Robotic Process Automation trends to look out for in 2021
1/29/2021 What are the key Robotic Process Automation (RPA) developments and trends for local authorities to look out for in 2021? |
Now is the time to embrace the ‘Centaur World’ we live in
4/9/2020 Chris Proctor says that overcoming ‘fear’ of tech and implementing it can have huge benefits for the housing sector . |
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Where are your services on the Smart City journey?
3/26/2020 With technology moving into the next era of 5G and AI, The MJ and BT recently conducted a survey into the extent that local authorities are using shared services to develop their Smart Cities and Places. Michael Burton reports |
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Councils adopt AI solutions to save £195m
3/9/2020 A national survey has revealed that local authorities expect to save over £195m in 2020 by introducing artificial intelligence (AI) technology techniques. |
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Council leadership needs to have oversight of the entire AI system
2/10/2020 Council leaders need to provide ‘proper accountability’ for AI technology and staff cannot take a ‘computer says no’ approach, according to the chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life. |
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Council saves £1m by using AI to repair roads
2/4/2020 Blackpool Council has managed to save £1m and filled in more than 5,000 potholes by using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to detect road damage. |
