Navigating change and delivering locally
Described as ‘the beating heart of conference’, the Innovation Zone remains a core part of the LGA’s annual conference, providing a unique space to share practical learning, showcase innovation and explore how local government is responding to change.
This year’s programme, under the conference theme ‘From neighbourhoods to nations: building lasting futures locally’, reflects the scale of transformation taking place across the sector, recognising both the challenges and opportunities that local authorities face.
Overseen by a cross-party member working group, drawn from the LGA’s Improvement Committee, this year’s Innovation Zone has been curated to create a more strategic and balanced programme, aligned closely with the wider priorities of the conference and, critically, the sector.
The programme focuses on the issues councils and combined authorities are facing now, including devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR), public service reform, regeneration and local growth, digital innovation and artificial intelligence (AI), sustainability and organisational transformation.
A strong theme running throughout the entire programme is how councils are navigating change.
Westmorland and Furness Council’s ‘Lessons on disaggregating services in LGR’ and North Yorkshire Council’s session on managing LGR and devolution together will provide practical insight into implementing large-scale organisational change and transition.
Surrey County Council and colleagues will share lessons from their LGR journey, offering practical insights from the past 18 months for councils preparing for, or already navigating, reorganisation.
Other sessions will explore how councils are working differently with communities and partners. Oswestry Town Council will share lessons from its partnership-led approach to regeneration and local leadership, while Southwark Council’s community-led system change model will showcase community-led approaches to tackling health inequalities.
Prevention will also feature strongly. Essex County Council, Wigan Council and Eastbourne Borough Council will explore earlier intervention and joined-up support, demonstrating the critical role of prevention across a range of service areas.
Innovation and digital capability are also central to this year’s Innovation Zone programme.
Councils including Coventry, North Somerset, and Brighton & Hove will showcase how AI is moving from experimentation into practical service delivery.
Rutland County Council will share how automation and ‘low-code’ tools (which use minimal computer coding and visual interfaces to build apps) are modernising performance management, while Hampshire County Council will demonstrate digital approaches to procurement and contract management.
The programme also highlights ambitious work under way to support local growth and regeneration.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority will present its work to align investment, skills and infrastructure to drive regional growth, while Barnet Council, Essex County Council and Central Bedfordshire Council will explore how community energy projects are supporting local resilience and sustainability.
Alongside this, Bristol City Council and partners will showcase how culture can support long-term place strategy and regeneration, while sessions on housing innovation and organisational transformation will explore new approaches to delivering better outcomes for communities.
At its core, the Innovation Zone remains about local authorities learning from one another. The programme continues to give a platform for practical innovation, peer learning and sector leadership, helping councils and combined authorities share what works and strengthen improvement across local government. I look forward to seeing you in the zone in Bournemouth.
- The Innovation Zone is a key part of the LGA’s annual conference from 7-9 July in Bournemouth. Find out more and book your place.