Protecting the public realm without shutting it down
As Martyn's Law approaches, this free special report from LocalGov and Hill & Smith sets out how councils can protect public spaces without shutting them down.
Six London councils warn new equality code risks excluding Trans+ people
10/08/2026 Six London councils have urged the Government to ensure Trans+ people are not excluded from public life following the commencement of new rules on single-sex spaces. |
Staffordshire Reform group moves to dismantle EDI programmes
29/06/2026 Staffordshire CC's Reform group has published a position paper setting out plans to remove equality, diversity and inclusion frameworks from the council. |
Liverpool City Region launches first anti-racism strategy
11/06/2026 Liverpool City Region has launched its first anti-racism strategy, developed with hundreds of stakeholders from across the region's communities. |
Historic first as gay couple take Leeds's top civic roles
26/05/2026 Cllr Stephen Holroyd has been confirmed as Lord Mayor of Leeds, becoming part of the first openly gay couple to hold the offices of Lord Mayor and Consort. |
Housing sector urged to act on equality and diversity gap
21/05/2026 Housing organisations across England are being called on to take more targeted action on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). |
Camden celebrates strides in workforce inclusivity scheme
24/02/2026 Camden Council has reached its goal of producing one hundred accessible employment opportunities in one hundred days. |
Belfast CC invests in arts events for underserved groups
16/02/2026 Belfast City Council is launching a grant scheme to boost access to music and arts events for under 18s. |
Will devolution deepen the UK's social divide?
22/01/2026 As the UK Government advances its devolution agenda, shifting power from Westminster to new regional authorities, it’s fair to ask what it means for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), says Gita Singham-Willis, Strategic Engagement Director at Transform UK. |
Call for sustainable funding to back digital inclusion work
22/01/2026 Nearly 80% of councils say financial constraints are the greatest barrier to digital inclusion, research has found. |
Redcar and Cleveland BC pledges to become an Endometriosis Friendly Employer
20/01/2026 Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has joined the Endometriosis Friendly Employer scheme. |
Councillors endorse anti-pavement parking powers
26/09/2025 Nearly three quarters of councillors would back the introduction of enforcement powers against pavement parking, data has revealed. |
Call for greater inclusivity in social housing sector
23/09/2025 Over 90% of tenants believe their organisation is not doing enough to attract tenants from ethnic minority groups into its influencing structures. |
Allotment pressures see councils shrink plot sizes
15/09/2025 Over three quarters of councils have limited the size of allotment plots, the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) has found. |
School attendance ‘priority’, says council amid rising suspensions
18/08/2025 Secondary school suspension rates in the Isle of Wight have risen by over 20% since 2023/24. |
Nearly £10m digital inclusion fund announced
13/08/2025 Local authorities across the UK could benefit from £9.5m of digital inclusion funding, the Government has announced. |
Council staff discouraged from using ‘mum’ and ‘dad’
11/08/2025 Merton Council is trying to discourage its staff from referring to parents as ‘mum’ and ‘dad’ in a push to encourage more inclusive language. |
Why age alone shouldn’t define local government leadership
08/08/2025 Age should never define leadership in local government, says Graeme McDonald, Managing Director of Solace. Instead, councils should invest in inclusive, skills-based development for officers and councillors to deliver effective public services. |
Residents rally to protect ‘essential’ town service
30/07/2025 Over 4,500 people have backed a petition campaigning for the preservation of Whitby Cliff lift. |
Ipswich BC confirms pioneering digital heritage project
27/06/2025 Ipswich Borough Council is rolling out a digital binocular scheme to celebrate local heritage sites. |
'More to do' on diversity in DCS roles
23/05/2025 Diversity among children’s services chiefs has improved over the last year, but ‘there is still more to do’ to make the role ‘visibly inclusive’, the Association of Directors of Children Services (ADCS) has said. |
Legal threats to Reform ambitions
21/05/2025 Reform UK's ambitions to shake up local government could be stymied by legal hurdles, an expert warned this week. |
