More than 1,800 delegates attended the LGA’s annual conference in Liverpool.
Every time our local government family comes together, I’m inspired and incredibly proud of everything our sector does to improve the lives of our residents and empower our communities.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a council leader – and more recently as the LGA’s Chair – is that this vital work sometimes goes unnoticed but deserves far greater recognition.
Over three days in Liverpool, however, the LGA’s annual conference shone a spotlight on the exceptional work going on across every level of local government, and created a space for further collaboration – the very heart of what we do best.
There were many enriching experiences, from the various sessions with council leaders sharing ideas, challenges and solutions, and the Innovation Zone’s showcasing of cutting-edge practice (see p15), to plenaries on housing, devolution, net zero, and workforce resilience.
The conversations were rich, forward-looking and grounded in our shared mission to deliver for our communities.
Together, councils – of all tiers and of every political persuasion or none – continue to make a difference, and the LGA continues to be there with you every step of the way.
At last year’s annual conference in Harrogate, we held the very first Leaders’ Council, which provides direct access to government for open dialogue on the country’s most pressing issues.
Hearing from my fellow members of the Leaders’ Council has been reassuring – a reminder of how much we share, despite the diversity of our local areas.
But the Leaders’ Council is more than just a forum for discussion – it’s a driving force for change. For example, we’ve agreed to establish a new task force with the Department for Education on early years and post-16 skills.
Beyond this, I was delighted to report to conference on further wins for our sector, spearheaded by the LGA’s policy boards.
For example, the Renters’ Rights Bill now delivers on nearly every single one of the LGA’s key priorities, from ending unfair ‘no fault’ evictions – which is one of the leading causes of homelessness – to safeguarding against unjust rent hikes. These measures will help families remain in their homes, and with the confidence that they can do so in decent conditions.
Another area of LGA success is around the Government’s commitment to allow remote attendance at council meetings.
The LGA has long called for councils to be able to decide this for themselves, and we hope to see legislation soon, as well as protection of councillors’ home addresses.
We were also delighted to see the LGA’s Work Local policy become government policy when the Department for Work and Pensions published the Get Britain Working White Paper.
The Government will now route employment and skills support locally, through mayors and clusters of councils.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill also reflects several key wins for our sector.
We have successfully delivered enhanced powers for our Trading Standards teams and vital measures to safeguard children and young people, with tighter regulations on vape marketing and packaging.
In June, we also welcomed the ban on disposable vapes, something the LGA was among the first to call for.
These achievements are a testament to the LGA’s influence, ambition, and advocacy. However, they are only made possible because of the hard work of councillors and officers who are committed to serving their communities.
Working in local government offers unparalleled opportunities to make a real difference.
We aren’t simply delivery arms – councils are catalysts of progress and innovation, and conference’s Innovation Zone showcased fantastic local solutions to the challenges we face.
If you joined us in Liverpool, thank you for sharing your insights. We hope this year’s annual conference lived up to your expectations, and we look forward to continuing the conversation on the many issues discussed.
If you couldn’t join us, I hope you read about our many announcements in the media – from support for special educational needs and disabilities to economic growth.
Councils continue to navigate many new things – new legislation, a Spending Review, local government reorganisation, devolution, a reset of funding principles, and electoral change – while, of course, continuing to deliver crucial services.
Annual conference was a great reminder of what sets local government apart: our ability to work together, across boundaries and political divides, in the interests of the people who elected us.
My thanks to Liverpool for being such a fantastic host and to you for providing the energy, passion and drive that made the conference such a success. We look forward to seeing you at next year’s event in Bournemouth, from 7-9 July 2026.
Improving services through information
Staying ahead of the game with up-to-date data about your council and how it compares with others has been made easier by the launch of the LGA’s LG Inform app.
The app features 110 key metrics, across 11 topic areas, that can be used for quick reference, offering a concise snapshot to complement the popular LG Inform website.
Launched at the LGA’s annual conference in early July, the app allows you to access up-to-date data, accurately share it with others, ask the right questions, and delve deeper to find more detailed evidence.
Timely notifications and alerts as new data is published allow you to stay updated.
To support meaningful and informed discussion and scrutiny, the metrics were selected in careful consultation with local government colleagues, based on the data they found most relevant.
This is an iterative challenge, and the LGA is keen to hear if there are any other metrics that should have been included, or any selected that should be reconsidered.
We recognise that such data does not always provide definitive conclusions about a council, because of performance being impacted by a range of factors beyond councils’ control (for example, the number and proportion of older people, the type of housing, or the level of deprivation in an area).
Councils may also choose to prioritise different metrics in line with local mandates or strategic paths.
Beyond the app, LG Inform is an invaluable tool that allows you to explore further and draw deeper insights. To help you in this research, the source for each metric is listed and all data is shown as it appears in the source publication.
The app forms part of the LG Inform suite of tools, which also includes LG Inform and LG Inform Plus.
For information on LG Inform, email lginform@local.gov.uk or visit LGA Inform website.