Welcome to the June Edition of Trowers Local Government Matters.
Local government continues to navigate one of the most significant periods of change in a generation. As the Government’s programme of devolution and local government reorganisation gathers pace, councils across England are moving from policy discussion to delivery, with new decisions emerging on unitary structures, governance arrangements and the future shape of local public services. The pace of reform means that local government reorganisation remains at the forefront of sector conversations, with authorities balancing transformation, service continuity, financial resilience and democratic accountability.
This edition of Local Government Matters brings together practical insights and resources to support organisations through this evolving landscape. Our Devolution and Local Government Reform Hub continues to track developments across the country and has recently been expanded with new content, including our Ending Well podcast series with Professor Catherine Staite exploring how councils can successfully navigate transition and closure, together with a series of conversations with former West Northamptonshire Chief Executive Anna Earnshaw on leadership, culture change and organisational transformation during periods of reform.
Alongside these developments, authorities continue to adapt to the practical realities of the Procurement Act 2023 as the new regime becomes embedded across the sector. We explore key procurement developments, transparency requirements and lessons emerging from the first year of implementation, together with the opportunities and risks associated with the increasing use of artificial intelligence in public services. Our Safe and Ethical AI Hub provides further guidance on how councils and public bodies can harness AI responsibly whilst maintaining public trust, accountability and effective governance.
Employment reform also remains a key area of focus, with the implications of the Employment Rights Act continuing to be assessed by employers across the public sector. As organisations prepare for changes affecting workforce management, service delivery and organisational design, we highlight a range of resources designed to help authorities respond confidently to the evolving legal and policy environment.
Across this issue of LGM you will find commentary, practical guidance, podcasts, webinars and thought leadership aimed at helping local authorities, combined authorities and their partners navigate reform, embrace innovation and deliver sustainable outcomes for their communities.
Devolution and Local Government Reform hub
On our dedicated hub, we've added our latest series of podcasts, interviews and articles, which you can explore below.
Ending Well - A Podcast Series with Professor Catherine Staite
A new podcast series exploring how councils can wind up effectively during local government reorganisation. Topics include leadership, governance, stewardship, organisational legacy and the practical challenges of bringing long-standing institutions to an orderly conclusion.
Listen to the first episode here
Culture Change and Organisational Transformation
A series of interviews with Anna Earnshaw, former Chief Executive of Northamptonshire County Council/West Northamptonshire Council, drawing on her experience of leading major organisational change. The discussions cover cultural transformation, leadership, workforce engagement and delivering successful reform during structural change.
Start reading the series of interviews here.
Articles and guidance
Our latest articles delve into the latest developments in devolution and local government reorganisation, covering process, governance, implementation and other emerging client priorities.
For all of this and more, from understanding the legislative detail to managing its practical impact, explore our resources on our hub by clicking the button below. Get in touch to discuss how these changes may affect your organisation.
Latest insights on procurement
Webinar: how to use the procure stage to further sustainable procurement
Following our first sustainable procurement webinar on the planning stage of a competition, we held the next instalment in the series, where we considered putting sustainable procurement into practice. We put the Procurement Act 2023 through its paces and considered how procurement structures, conditions of participation and award criteria can deliver up an organisation's social and environmental priorities.
Procurement Act 2023: one year in practice – designing a competitive flexible procedure
In this first episode of a two-part podcast, Rebecca Rees, Head of Public Procurement at Trowers & Hamlins, is joined by Antony Silk, Director of Procurement at Southern Housing, to reflect on the first year of the Procurement Act 2023.
UK procurement in 2026: An era of transparency, rigour and reform
From enhanced guidance on testing suppliers' financial standing to greater payment transparency and expanded opportunities for SMEs, this article cuts through the complexity and sets out what you need to know as at the end of Q1 2026!
Contract payment information
Contract payment information is the final requirement to take effect and will require contracting authorities to publish quarterly information about certain payments made under Public Contracts (defined below) with the aim of improving visibility of public sector spending.
Jade Divers and Jasmin Mann delve into this by looking at the £30,000 threshold, the information that needs to be published and more.
AI procurement in local government: legal risks and the case for clearer frameworks
Local authorities across the UK face mounting legal and operational risk in their procurement of artificial intelligence (AI) systems, owing to the absence of clear, comprehensive, and consistent guidance on how to act in the public interest.
Amardeep Gill and Yashpreet Panesar look at a new report from the Ada Lovelace Institute, which has brought these vulnerabilities into sharp focus, prompting questions about accountability, fairness, and the adequacy of existing legislative and regulatory frameworks.
Employment rights act
The Employment Rights Act 2025 represents the most significant overhaul of workers' rights in a generation, with changes rolling out over the next 18 months. To help you keep up to date, we have lots of insights, webinars and more.
HR law hub
Our hub provides updates, ensuring you’re always informed about legislative shifts, landmark cases, and emerging trends.
Trowers Tuesday webinars
Catch up on latest webinars where our experts discuss the below topics.
Employment tribunals - managing delays and risk
Managing AI generated grievances
Preventing misuse of Non-disclosure agreements: combating "a culture of silence and impunity"
On 15 April 2026 the government issued a consultation on regulations to prevent the misuse of Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in cases of workplace harassment or discrimination. The consultation closes on 8 July 2026 and the measures are expected to come in sometime next year.
Rebecca McGuirk and Nicola Ihnatowicz delve into this in our bulletin below.
The Employment Rights Act 2025 and other proposed employment reforms
The government's implementation roadmap contains information as to when the measures in the Act will be introduced; some of them not until 2027.
We have summarised the main provisions of the Act below, setting out the current position and what will change under the Act.
Safe and Ethical AI - our latest updates
As AI continues to reshape business and public services, we have created a dedicated space where we've brought together all of our insights, analysis and practical guidance from this month and beyond, diving into different aspects on one of the most important questions facing organisations today.
You can catch up on our latest insights below.
Generative AI and the changing landscape of complaints and information requests: what public bodies must consider
AI is altering both the volume and character of submissions that public bodies must handle while many organisations are also exploring whether AI can assist in managing that increasing workload. This article sets out the key opportunities, legal risks and practical considerations for public bodies.
AI Scheming: Private and public sector implications
For organisations across the UK, the question is no longer whether to adopt AI, but how to do so responsibly, safely and ethically in the long term. A set of newly published findings from the Centre for Long-Term Resilience (CLTR) and UK AI Security Institute (UK AISI) raises a key concern for responsible adoption: what happens when an AI agent begins to work against the system it was deployed to serve?
Extended Intelligence: A new framework for human-AI collaboration
31 March 2026
Artificial Intelligence has been a prevalent topic in recent years. Whilst progress in AI technology has accelerated markedly, discourse surrounding AI often adopts an unhelpful oppositional framing, positioning it as rival to human cognitive capabilities.
Amardeep Gill and Matt Whelan look a collaborative model, where the idea comes from and what this means in practice.
