The 2023 local government elections are now complete – in some cases resulting in new political arrangements, including changes of control, no overall control or changes to councils’ portfolio holders and leaders.
The LGA provides our member councils with tools and resources to support them throughout this period of change, including guidance focusing on the immediate post-election period and support for the longer term.
Every council will respond in their own way and in the context of their own local situation, but it can also be helpful to learn from the experiences of others.
We continue to talk to a range of leaders and chief executives whose councils have experienced changes in leadership. Their lessons inform our guidance, which we hope you will find useful.
We also offer a range of post-elections support to help smooth political transitions and ensure that councillors and council officers have access to resources and support to deliver effectively in their roles.
This help is provided through our regional support teams and expert councillor and officer peers. It includes:
- bespoke support and advice tailored to councillor and officer support needs, across areas including governance and organisational leadership
- mentoring by expert peers, providing councillors and officers support to carry out their roles
- top team development for senior political leadership teams, to enhance decision-making and leadership capacity
- councillor and/or officer development sessions, including induction events for new councillors
- mediation to address challenges in relationships between senior councillors and/or council officers
- a peer network for chief executives who experienced a change in political leadership following the May elections.
Please contact the LGA principal adviser for your region to discuss your support needs.
Building coalitions
Following May’s local elections, more councils are now in ‘no overall control’, with no single political group having sufficient numbers to take power locally.
This could result in some councils being run as ‘minority’ administrations, or by coalitions of two or more political groups.
LGA advice and support on effective coalitions emphasises the need to build strong foundations and to take time – to build personal relationships, identify shared agendas, and develop a written agreement.
Finding common ground is really important. Group leaders need to explore their respective interests, policies, values and manifesto promises, and identify where these are shared.
Where there are divergent interests and policies, these need to be identified and managed.
Any initial verbal agreement needs to be followed up with a written agreement, and any necessary adjustments to this need careful negotiation.
The LGA’s guidance is clear that stable coalitions thrive when time is taken to deliberately and carefully build relationships across the coalition groups, and not just between their lead members.
Building a diverse, skilled leadership team will bring benefits over the longer term, so look across the groups to match known skills, experience and commitment to leadership roles.
Avoid public disagreements, keep the groups involved, and invest in effective and timely communications.
Political ‘nous’ is crucial – soft skills such as influencing, relationship building, and negotiation skills are at a premium in coalitions.
- Check for more on the LGA’s ‘Reflection exercise – 10 components of effective coalitions’.