10 Ways Councils Are Using AI to Transform Public Services
Councils are increasingly adopting AI-based solutions to improve services. LocalGov Assistant editor Izzy Lepone has collected 10 innovative case studies.
The power of public ownership in place-based regeneration
28/07/2025 Council-led ownership is key to revitalising economically challenged areas, says Carolina Borgstrom, Director of North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC). |
West Midlands Mayor reveals economic growth plan
22/07/2025 West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker has unveiled plans to create tens of thousands of new jobs and homes, which he hopes will ‘turbocharge’ the region’s economy over the next decade. |
Mayor of London announces £600k high street boost
14/07/2025 The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced a £600,000 investment to revitalise local high streets in the capital. |
Gloucestershire to benefit from ‘transformative’ technology park project
10/07/2025 Developers have confirmed plans to build a Nuclear and Clean Energy Technology Park in Gloucestershire. |
LGA: Councils have £276bn of untapped potential
04/07/2025 Government support overcoming place-specific barriers to growth could help local authorities unleash £276bn of untapped economic potential, research suggests. |
Mayor calls for ‘urgent action’ to transform Oxford Street
17/06/2025 Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has confirmed plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street following the results of a formal consultation. |
Government makes EV chargepoints more accessible to drivers
30/05/2025 Drivers could save thousands each year following new electric vehicle (EV) chargepoint regulations. |
Enterprise zone set to grow local workforce
23/05/2025 A proposed enterprise zone in Wolverhampton and south Staffordshire could create nearly 15,000 jobs and boost the regional economy by £600m. |
Plans to deliver new towns could cost £48bn
20/05/2025 Government plans to build up to 12 new towns in England could cost £48bn, a new study estimates. |
Study reveals local government gender gap
15/05/2025 A new UK-wide study has revealed vast regional disparities in gender-based outcomes relating to economic success and growth. |
US trade deal needed in ‘weeks, not months’, Mayor says
07/05/2025 The Government must secure a trade deal with President Trump in ‘weeks, not months’ to avoid damage to the West Midlands economy, Mayor says. |
MPs warn of the cost of inaction on social care reform
06/05/2025 MPs have urged the Government to measure the cost of inaction on social care and warned that failing to do so would mean reforms are ‘doomed to failure’. |
Council chiefs back call for funding creatives
04/03/2025 Local government leaders have backed a call to provide more financial support to smaller creative industries which can ‘drive local growth.’ |
Spending Review chance to end ‘permacrisis’
11/02/2025 The Spending Review is a chance to end the ‘permacrisis’ that has left a growing number of local authorities on the brink of bankruptcy, London Councils says. |
Children's mental health crisis costs over £1tn
05/02/2025 The failure to tackle the children's mental health crisis costs the UK over £1tn in lifetime lost earnings, researchers focusing on mental health warn. |
Plans for Europe’s joint-tallest building approved
16/12/2024 London's skyline is set to be transformed with the erection of a 74-storey tower, which is the same height as the Shard, Western Europe’s tallest building. |
Chancellor confirms pension ‘megafund’ plans
14/11/2024 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed plans to merge local government pension schemes into ‘megafunds’ to drive economic growth. |
UKSPF allocations slashed by 40%
05/11/2024 Allocations from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) have been cut by 40% to £900m for a ‘transitional' 2025-26 ahead of wider local growth funding reform. |
Councils 'sitting on' £8bn of s106 and CIL money
21/10/2024 Councils in England and Wales have failed to spend over £8bn of section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) money, according to a new report. |
Solace: Underfunding councils ‘ultimate false economy’
14/10/2024 Failing to properly fund councils is ‘the ultimate false economy’ because it forces them to make ‘repugnant’ cuts which lead to greater problems in the future. |
Mayors can relieve council pressures, says report
09/10/2024 Mayoral combined authorities (MCAs) can help with long-standing policy challenges in public services as well as boosting economic growth, a think-tank has argued. |
Staffordshire leaders kick off devolution conversation
30/09/2024 Council leaders across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent have written to the Government to begin a conversation about devolution. |
Councils work to manage impact from collapse of major contractor
23/09/2024 Councils across England and Wales are working to manage the impact to a string of major infrastructure projects following the collapse of building firm ISG. |
Think tank calls for health and prosperity improvement zones
17/09/2024 Local authorities should be empowered to create health and prosperity improvement zones modelled on clean air zones, a cross-party commission says. |
Regional growth initiatives likely to 'fall over next year' without UKSPF clarity
12/09/2024 Regional growth initiatives are likely to ‘fall over next year' unless the Government clarifies the future of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), a combined authority chief has warned. |
Call for Reeves to remove barriers to pension investment
09/08/2024 The chancellor has been urged to make a ‘concerted effort' to break down barriers to investment so the local government pension scheme can boost growth. |
Skills England to fix ‘fractured’ skills landscape
22/07/2024 A new body will tackle the ‘fractured’ skills landscape across England, the Prime Minister and education secretary have announced. |
King's Speech: Devolution takes centre stage
17/07/2024 The announcement of an English Devolution Bill took centre stage in the King's Speech. |
King's Speech: A plan for devolution
17/07/2024 The new Labour Government has set out a widespread plan for devolution and economic growth in its Parliamentary timetable, with central diktat reserved for planning proposals. |
Rayner: Labour ready to ‘transfer power out of Whitehall’
09/07/2024 Deputy PM Angela Rayner is set to tell regional mayors that Labour is ready to ‘transfer power out of Whitehall’ through a major programme of devolution. |
Reeves: Labour set to bring back housebuilding targets
08/07/2024 Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to announce today that she will bring back compulsory housebuilding targets. |
LGPS quizzed in Labour economic growth push
04/07/2024 Labour has been asking local government pensions schemes their views on greater ‘investment into the UK’ as they look to drive growth, consultant says. |
Wakefield seeks acclaim as UK sculpture capital
18/06/2024 Wakefield Council has devised a plan to boost tourism and gain recognition as the UK capital of sculpture. |
Growth at heart of LGA White Paper
03/06/2024 The Local Government Association (LGA) has called for powers and funding so that councils can take a leading role in driving inclusive growth. |
Reeves: No return to austerity
29/05/2024 Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said there will be no return to austerity under a Labour Government. |
Mayors meet to hear growth plans
13/05/2024 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has summoned his party’s newly-elected mayors for a meeting to detail his plans for economic growth. |
Night-time economy leaders frustrated at lack of support
24/04/2024 Business leaders working in London's night-time economy have expressed their ‘frustration and anger’ at the lack of governmental support the sector receives. |
Addressing regional inequalities
18/04/2024 Andrew Borland, Chief Innovation Officer at the Virtual Engineering Centre (VEC), University of Liverpool discusses the importance of levelling up for growth. |
Call for evidence boost in local economic policy
16/04/2024 Centre for Cities has called for more evidence to be at the heart of local economic policy making. |
Worcestershire CC launches plan to boost tourism
14/03/2024 Worcestershire County Council has launched a new plan to grow the county’s ‘billion-pound tourism economy’. |
Report calls for more devolution to boost creative industries
23/01/2024 The further devolution of powers and funding connected to culture will help tackle economic stagnation and will boost to local communities, study finds. |
Levelling up must continue, urges think-tank
22/01/2024 Efforts to level up the country and devolve more powers to local government should continue following the General Election, a think-tank has urged. |
‘Bad health blackspots’ hold back growth
19/01/2024 Stark health inequalities are holding back economic growth, new research has found. |
Culture year to launch with raft of events
02/01/2024 A year-long programme of cultural activities in Wakefield is set to kick off with a day of 24 free events. |
‘Growth zones’ for West Midlands in UK first
22/12/2023 The West Midlands is to become the first UK region to receive new ‘growth zone’ powers, which the combined authority said could generate £1.7bn. |
Government confirms LEP funding
21/12/2023 Eligible councils will receive ‘up to’ £240,000 in 2024-25 to deliver the functions previously covered by Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), the Government has said. |
Autumn Statement: West Midlands investment zone confirmed
23/11/2023 An investment zone is set to be established in the West Midlands focusing on three sites in Warwickshire, Birmingham, and Wolverhampton, Chancellor confirms. |
Nearly 460k unemployed due to unhealthy lifestyle
21/11/2023 Nearly 460,000 people in the UK are unemployed due to the health impact of tobacco, alcohol, and obesity, costing the economy £31.1bn. |
West Yorkshire to host £220m investment zone
21/11/2023 A new investment zone has been announced for West Yorkshire focused on life sciences. |
Land value tax could redistribute billions
09/11/2023 A plan to reform business rates could lead to billions of pounds being redistributed from high land value areas to other parts of the country. |
Call for local income tax collection for biggest city regions
08/11/2023 More taxation powers, including the ability to keep a proportion of income tax, should be devolved to England’s three biggest city regions, a think-tank has argued. |
Manifesto push for statutory economic powers
07/11/2023 The Institute of Economic Development (IED) has launched an ‘agenda for change’ with a continued call for councils to be given statutory duties on economic development. |
Optimism about Greater Manchester’s economy ‘badly misplaced’
21/09/2023 Greater Manchester should expand its city centre, improve connectivity, and build 126,000 more homes to boost its productivity, the Resolution Foundation says. |
Gove to ease nutrient neutrality requirements
29/08/2023 Ministers have announced they will ease divisive development rules on water pollution blamed for low housebuilding rates in rural areas. |
LEP functions to be transferred to upper-tier councils
04/08/2023 The Government has today confirmed it will transfer many Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) functions to upper-tier councils and combined authorities. |
VisitBritain HQ moves to Birmingham
20/07/2023 Birmingham will be home to VisitBritain’s new headquarters, the national tourism agency has announced. |
Hull plans ‘innovative’ box park venue
18/07/2023 Hull CC will consider developing a ‘box park’ site on what is currently waste land, with the aim of attracting visitors to the city centre and creating jobs. |
Cities call for new devolved powers
18/07/2023 A group of cities today demanded new devolved powers and investment to help the UK become a science and innovation ‘superpower’. |
South Yorkshire named as UK’s first investment zone
17/07/2023 South Yorkshire was named by the Government on Friday as the site of the first UK investment zone. |
Public libraries generate £3.4bn a year, study finds
07/07/2023 England’s public libraries generate at least £3.4bn each year, a landmark new analysis has revealed. |
Pledge promotes prosperity
04/07/2023 Cllr Tracey Dixon, leader of South Tyneside Council, explains the local authority’s Pledge ahead of the council’s presentation at the LGA’s annual conference. |
Barnsley launches new initiative to boost employment
04/07/2023 Barnsley Council and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority have launched a new initiative to support thousands of residents into employment. |
Plans for South Yorkshire Apprenticeship Hub unveiled
29/06/2023 South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard has announced plans to create 300 apprenticeships in the region through a new Apprenticeship Hub. |
Closing council gender gap could boost output £23bn
15/06/2023 Closing the gender employment gap in UK local authorities would increase economic output by £23bn or 1% of GDP, according to campaigners. |
Doncaster council’s fight to reopen airport gets £3m boost
06/06/2023 The fight to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport has been given a £3.1m boost by South Yorkshire's mayoral combined authority. |
Oxford and Swindon top ‘good growth’ index
26/05/2023 Oxford and Swindon have come out top in a ranking of cities according to their residents’ economic wellbeing, with Bristol and Exeter following closely behind. |
London boroughs agree first infrastructure framework
17/05/2023 All 33 local authorities across London have agreed an infrastructure framework on a cross-party, pan-London basis for the first time. |
Council chiefs call for statutory powers to boost economy
16/05/2023 Local authority leaders have urged the Government to give councils statutory powers over economic development. |
North East has highest percentage of empty shops
10/05/2023 The North East has the highest percentage of empty high street shops in Britain, a new study has revealed. |
‘Red Wall’ areas score poorly on social fabric index
02/05/2023 Local communities in areas won by the Conservatives from Labour in 2019 have continued to face decline despite the levelling up agenda, think tank finds. |
Cornwall Council’s space centre launches new R&D facility
28/04/2023 The space centre owned by Cornwall Council has opened a new building for businesses developing and launching satellites. |
Labour pledges to revitalise high streets
12/04/2023 Labour will today promote its plan to revitalise ailing high streets through a £700m fund to help small businesses with soaring energy bills. |
Why a circular economy is good for local government
23/03/2023 Wayne Hubbard, CEO of ReLondon, argues that green measures can save councils money and help local businesses. |
West Midlands CA welcomes unspent Commonwealth Games funding
20/03/2023 Around £70m of unspent Commonwealth Games funding is to be used to develop the West Midlands economy and boost its trade and tourism sectors. |
New Buckinghamshire film studios to create 1,200 jobs
17/03/2023 Buckinghamshire Council has granted planning permission for a new eight-stage film studio expected to support 1,200 jobs. |
Budget 2023: Hunt confirms investment zone cash
15/03/2023 Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has confirmed in the spring budget plans to go ahead with 12 investment zones, each backed by a multi-million-pound injection of cash. |
MPs call for more power to be granted to London’s councils
13/03/2023 MPs have called for more power and resources to be devolved to London’s local authorities in order to boost the capital’s productivity. |
Systemic sexism costs economy over £88bn a year
08/03/2023 Barriers faced by women wanting to work is costing the economy in England, Scotland and Wales £88.7bn every year, according to new research. |
Councils should become primary provider of childcare, survey finds
06/03/2023 Councils should become the primary provider of state-subsidised childcare designed to get parents back to work and boost productivity, a new survey has found. |
Shetland council launches campaign to attract fishing boats
01/03/2023 Shetland Islands Council and Lerwick Port Authority have joined forces to encourage fishing boats to land in their harbours. |
Treasury tightens grip over DLUHC spending
08/02/2023 New capital projects by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) will now have to be approved by the Treasury. |
Leicestershire council to convert its office into hotel
06/02/2023 A Leicestershire council is planning to turn parts of its office into a hotel because staff working from home means less space is needed. |
Poor health 'undermining UK economy' think tank warns
08/12/2022 Mental health problems are the most common reason for people being unable to work new research has revealed. |
Labour outlines huge devolution push
05/12/2022 Labour proposes removing ‘dead hand of centralisation’ by devolving to local government wide-ranging powers over employment, growth, transport and education. |
Liverpool signs deal for £70m Littlewoods project
04/12/2022 The developers behind the £70m Littlewoods project have signed a deal with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Liverpool City Council to kick start the project. |
Think tank warns against ‘anti-London sentiment’
30/11/2022 A think tank has accused policymakers of ‘anti-London sentiment’ and urged Whitehall to do more to include the capital in the levelling up agenda. |
Reeves to make case for economic devolution
23/11/2022 The shadow chancellor will make the case for ‘deeper and broader’ economic devolution as Labour stresses the need for ‘more local powers’ over the economy. |
Colchester and Reading join Key Cities network
21/11/2022 Colchester and Reading today announced that they have joined Key Cities, a network representing the UK’s urban areas, to help drive their economic growth. |
Council leader welcomes plans to relocate famous markets
18/11/2022 The leader of Barking and Dagenham council, Cllr Darren Rodwell, has welcomed plans to relocate Billingsgate and Smithfield wholesale markets to Dagenham Dock. |
Autumn statement: Investment zones ‘refocus’ in Autumn Statement
17/11/2022 Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt has binned ‘existing expressions of interest’ from councils to set up investment zones as the Government moves to ‘refocus’ the programme. |
Women’s Euro 2022 gives Sheffield £8m boost
18/10/2022 Sheffield’s hosting of UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 gave the city’s economy an £8.3m boost, new research reveals. |
Decline of economic vitality across 20 UK cities is 'accelerating'
10/10/2022 Nottingham has seen the biggest drop in its economic vitality rating compared to other UK cities, new research has revealed today. |
Councils invited to host Investment Zones
03/10/2022 Local authorities are now able to apply to host a new Investment Zone, the Government announced over the weekend. |
Government urged to ‘turbocharge’ devolution
26/09/2022 Council leaders have urged the Government to go ‘further’ with devolution and to conclude deals with the first cohort of county areas by the end of autumn. |
Mini-Budget: Kwarteng's plans to boost economic growth
23/09/2022 New Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has unveiled a mini-Budget aimed at boosting the economy and growing his way out of the country’s financial woes. |
Local government ‘over-centralised’, think tanks say
02/09/2022 Local government is over-centralised, inefficient, and under-resourced and is harming the UK economy, a new report says. |
Call for new PM to boost role of LEPs
08/08/2022 The next PM must better support small businesses through Local Enterprise Partnerships if the UK is to ride the forthcoming recession, business leaders warn. |
Think tank calls for beefed up levelling up
26/07/2022 A think tank has demanded the next government reverse council funding cuts and beef up the levelling up Bill after new figures revealed public spending continues to leave the North behind. |
‘Parallel pandemic’ of mental ill health cost North £2bn
25/07/2022 The number of mental ill health cases in the North of England were much higher during the pandemic than in any other part of the country and cost £2bn. |
Boldly going where Birmingham has never gone before
21/07/2022 Cllr Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council, explains the integral role of the local authority in delivering the upcoming Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. |
