LGE and Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
Within Local Government East, devolution and reorganisation has been highlighted as a top priority. The team have ensured that events on these subjects will take place throughout the year, with a roundtable on reorganisation due to take place in June, and an in-person roundtable on devolution due to take place in November.
The policy team continues to monitor and influence government thinking in this sphere, and are also working with colleagues in other organisations, such as the subnational transport bodies, Chambers East and the East of England All Party Parliamentary Group, to ensure that opportunities for the East are identified and delivered as part of the devolution and reorganisation agenda.
Direct advocacy also continues, most recently with a letter sent to Minister McMahon to ask that local authorities are given the support they need to successfully transition, in terms of certainty, resources, and central government responsiveness. LGE also continues to provide a forum for chief executives to collaborate with one another about their experiences around devolution and reorganisation, enabling the sharing of best practice and intel across the region.
The Employer Services Team is a trusted partner to our councils navigating the complex challenges of devolution and local government reorganisation. From workforce integration and restructuring to the harmonisation of terms and conditions of employment and TUPE, the team will provide expert guidance rooted in professional expertise and best practice. The team is already planning to offer the following for the region:
- Roundtables in collaboration with the Policy and Programme Team.
- Regular updates to our Heads of HR meetings each month.
- Feeding back from the National Association of Regional Employers (NARE) meetings and sharing expertise and best practice from other regions.
- A dedicated Local Government Essentials East event on 7 October 2025 which will see the delivery of several workshops for the region to provide support and guidance with devolution and LGR.
- Working alongside our recognised trade unions to encourage joint working when delivering on the people aspects of devolution and LGR.
Whether supporting strategic workforce planning, managing employee relations or advising on TUPE and consultation processes, the Employer Services Team will ensure that our councils are equipped to make informed, legally sound decisions, whilst keeping people at the heart of everything we do. Additional resources may be required to enable this to happen, and the team will work closely with the LGE Talent Bank, which can provide additional resource and resilience to our councils.
Across all of LGE’s core support, officers will continually engage with member authorities to ensure the services that are designed and delivered best meet the needs of councils and offer the greatest added value in the devolution and reorganisation space.
Upcoming Events
- LGE Virtual Roundtable Discussion: Navigating the Local Government Reorganisation Journey in the East (24 June: 10.00 – 11.30)
- LGE Virtual Roundtable Discussion: Navigating the Local Government Reorganisation Journey and Adult Social Care (11 September: 10.00 – 11.30)
- Local Government Essentials East: A Day of Discovery and Development, Safron Walden – Featuring a full day of workshops led by our Talent Bank Taskforce offering information and guidance on a range of Devolution and LGR related topics for HR leads (7 October 09.00 – 15.30)
- Devolution Opportunities for the East of England – Huntingdon (Invitation Only) (November 10.00 – 14.00)