Local Government Information Unit

Local Government Information Unit
Name	Local Government Information Unit
Type	Think tank and membership body
Founded	1980s
Headquarters	London
Region served	United Kingdom
Leader title	Director

Local Government Information Unit is a British membership organisation and think tank that provides analysis, advocacy, and capacity-building for local authorities. It engages with councils, elected officials, civil servants, policy networks, and academic centres to influence public policy and service delivery. The organisation liaises with a wide range of institutions, professional associations, and campaign groups across the United Kingdom and internationally.

History

Founded in the late 20th century amid debates about municipal reorganisation, the organisation emerged alongside bodies such as the Local Government Association, Association of Metropolitan Authorities, District Councils Network, Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Centre for Cities. Early contacts included links with Department for Communities and Local Government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government, Northern Ireland Executive, European Commission offices in London, and civil society organisations like Joseph Rowntree Foundation, British Council, Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, and New Local Government Network. Over time it developed relationships with academic institutions including London School of Economics, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Manchester, and research groups such as Institute for Fiscal Studies, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, British Academy, and Royal Society. The organisation’s trajectory paralleled policy debates involving legislation like the Local Government Act 1972, Localism Act 2011, Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012, and high-profile inquiries conducted by bodies including the National Audit Office, Committee on Standards in Public Life, and House of Commons Public Accounts Committee.

Organisation and Governance

Governance arrangements have involved trustees, advisory panels, and executive directors drawn from the worlds of local politics, civil service, academia, and the voluntary sector, echoing governance models seen at Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Institute for Government, Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, Resolution Foundation, and Institute of Fiscal Studies. Its board has included individuals with links to parties and institutions such as the Labour Party, Conservative Party, Liberal Democrats, Scottish National Party, Green Party of England and Wales, Trade Union Congress, Chartered Institute of Housing, and legal advisers who have worked with Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Crown Prosecution Service. The organisation operates with staff roles comparable to those at Localis, Centre for Public Impact, Reform, Policy Exchange, and Demos.

Activities and Publications

The organisation produces research briefings, reports, toolkits, and events mirroring outputs by Institute for Government, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Centre for Cities, Institute of Public Policy Research, and British Council. Its publications have addressed topics linked to statutory frameworks and policy instruments such as the Equality Act 2010, Freedom of Information Act 2000, Housing Act 1985, and funding mechanisms scrutinised by the National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee. It has convened conferences with partners like Local Government Association, Society of Local Authority Chief Executives, Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, Association of Directors of Children’s Services, Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, Centre for Excellence and Outcomes in Children and Young People’s Services, and universities including University College London and King’s College London. Its briefing series has featured contributions from researchers affiliated with Institute for Fiscal Studies, overseas think tanks such as the Brookings Institution, and policy scholars from University of Edinburgh and University of Glasgow.

Policy Influence and Campaigns

The organisation engages in advocacy and coalition-building with sector bodies such as the Local Government Association, Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, Local Government Employers, County Councils Network, and political actors across the House of Commons, House of Lords, Scottish Parliament, Senedd Cymru, and Northern Ireland Assembly. Campaigns have intersected with national debates involving legislation and inquiries like the Localism Act 2011 discussions, scrutiny by the National Audit Office, and parliamentary committees including the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee. It has collaborated with civil society and campaign groups such as Friends of the Earth, Shelter (charity), Age UK, Centre for Ageing Better, Equality and Human Rights Commission, and RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) to shape policy on housing, climate action, social care, and devolution. Engagements have also included international networks like Council of European Municipalities and Regions, United Cities and Local Governments, and partnerships with institutions such as the European Commission and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding models have combined membership subscriptions, project grants, consultancy income, and philanthropic support similar to arrangements at Resolution Foundation, Institute for Public Policy Research, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, and Urban Institute. Major partners and funders historically include local authorities, trusts and foundations such as the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Barrow Cadbury Trust, Nuffield Foundation, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, corporate partners, and public bodies including the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and devolved administrations like the Scottish Government. Collaborative projects have linked with research councils and funders such as the Economic and Social Research Council, Arts and Humanities Research Council, and international partners including the European Investment Bank and World Bank on comparative local governance initiatives.

Membership and Services

Membership offers networking, training, research access, and consultancy services similar to those provided by Local Government Association, Society of Local Authority Chief Executives, Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, Chartered Institute of Housing, and Association of Directors of Children’s Services. Services have included events, webinars, policy briefings, leadership programmes, and peer-learning exchanges in partnership with academic centres like London School of Economics, University of Oxford, University of Birmingham, and professional bodies such as Chartered Institute of Public Relations and Institute of Leadership and Management. Members have ranged from unitary authorities and metropolitan councils to parish councils and combined authorities such as Greater Manchester Combined Authority and West Midlands Combined Authority.

Category:Think tanks based in the United Kingdom