Leading within our sector
It all begins Across local government, the commitment to delivering real impact for our communities is unwavering — even in the face of complex challenges and the significant system-wide change expected through the forthcoming Local Government Review.
Meeting these challenges and continue delivering for our residents, communities, and places requires a nuanced and insightful level of leadership. Success will depend on how we lead ourselves, how we lead with others, and how we engage with partners and communities. This kind of leadership goes beyond job titles or roles — it calls for collective leadership that works across the whole system.
The evolving role of local government
Local government is transforming from a top-down, paternalistic model to one that values service, participation, and partnership — and leadership is central to this evolution.
From Paternalism to Participation
Historically, decisions were made for citizens, with minimal input or accountability. As society has changed, so did expectations — driving a shift toward transparency, responsiveness, and greater citizen involvement. Effective leadership has been critical in navigating this change.
Citizen-Centred Services and Leadership
Citizens are now seen as partners and customers, with increasing expectations for quality services and meaningful engagement.
Local government leaders are expected to model inclusive, forward-thinking leadership that enables active citizenship and community voice.
Leadership today means working across boundaries, building trust, and co-creating solutions with residents and the voluntary and community sector (VCS).
Evolving leadership in local government
The future of local government relies on modern local leadership that is adaptive, collaborative, and people-focused — shaping not just services, but the culture of participation and trust that underpins democratic local governance.
Developing our leadership practice is a vital skill — shaping how we lead ourselves, others, and our organisations to create a meaningful shift in how local government thinks, acts, and operates. A move further away from bureaucracy and treacly to modern, adaptive and creative organisations.
This journey involves building on our strengths while challenging the status quo. It means unpacking and replacing the sector’s ‘unwritten rules’ — the assumptions about how things have to be done — with new, adaptive mental models and approaches that better reflect today’s needs.
Leadership in local government sits within a paradox: we are both shaped by our council’s culture and have the power to shape it. Recognising this dual role allows us to see leadership as a conscious choice — one that requires us to understand our context, build resilience, and adopt a mindset capable of influencing ourselves, others, and the wider system.
This doesn’t downplay the complexity of the leadership challenge. Instead, it emphasises that we can develop a constructive, unified, and collective leadership strength.
The Local Government Leadership Hub supports this journey — offering bitesize learning as well as a structured development pathway for everyone from new team leaders to experienced organisational leaders. an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world.