Local Government Reorganisation:
Build a better council
If your council is going through Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), or is expecting to soon, you already know the scale of what’s involved. And one of the most important strategic decisions you'll face. How do you manage your technology?
LGR isn’t just an administrative exercise. It’s a rare opportunity to break from legacy systems, rethink long-standing processes, and put in place the kind of tools that will actually help your teams do more with less.
Understanding Local Government Reorganisation
LGR means moving multiple councils into one. It’s happened in places like North Yorkshire, Somerset, and Cumberland. These new unitary authorities are designed to simplify governance, reduce duplication, and improve how services are delivered.
But in reality, it also means:
- Merging multiple IT estates
- Bringing together different ways of working
- Fixing inconsistent or overlapping processes
- And doing all that while continuing to deliver day-to-day services
That final point is crucial. While stability is important, it should not come at the expense of progress.
LGR can go one of two ways
Robin Denton, Microsoft’s Director of Local Public Services, who advises councils on large-scale technology change, puts it plainly:.
“You can decide to hold off and preserve what you’ve got. Or you can take the opportunity to be better than you were.”
Councils like Somerset and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) chose the latter. They didn’t wait to stabilise before improving. They saw LGR as the right time to get rid of technical debt, reduce manual processes, and build services that work for both residents and staff, from day one.
A slow path that avoids tough decisions might feel like the safer route, but it can cost you years of lost innovation and momentum.
Listen to the episode: The Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) dilemma
And explore how local authorities can navigate this fine line between disruption and transformation.
Where to start
Ask what’s not working. Most councils still run services built around outdated ways of working.
Robin shared one example: a pothole repair process that spanned an entire meeting room wall when mapped out. It involved multiple handovers, paper forms, delays, and admin. “Processes like that are everywhere,” he said.
LGR shines a light on them. But it also gives you permission to fix them.
That doesn’t mean replacing everything at once. But it does mean making smart choices - like moving to shared platforms across services, where automation and data can help remove friction and reduce effort.
Data + AI
AI is already helping councils save time and improve consistency. Social care teams are using voice-to-text tools to cut admin. Housing teams are using sensors to prevent maintenance issues. Children’s services are using joined-up data to identify risk earlier.
Such technology innovations are being driven from the frontline and the need to deliver more with less. But leadership still matters.
As Robin shared, one council’s senior team encouraged everyone in the organisation to use Microsoft Copilot chat. It was a safe, secure way for staff to explore the tool. The results? Faster reporting, better use of time, and new ideas bubbling up that leadership hadn’t even considered.
Don’t start with tech, start with outcomes
Technology isn’t the answer to LGR. It’s the enabler. The question isn’t “What system should we buy?” It’s “What kind of council do we want to be?” Fast, flexible, data-driven - or held back by old systems and outdated processes?
Robin put it best: “Lead with the outcomes you want to drive. Then work backwards from there.”
If your council is entering LGR - or planning for what comes next - this is your chance to set the pace. You can carry over what you’ve always done, or you can use this moment to build something stronger, simpler, and more future-ready.
The choice is yours... just choose wisely.