Case Study: Norfolk Local Government Reorganisation: Community Engagement Model
Client: Norfolk County Council Date: July - August 2025 Challenge faced by the client : Norfolk County Council (NCC) was navigating the complex landscape of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) as part of the national mandate to transition towards single-tier unitary authorities. Central government established six headline criteria for all LGR proposals. Under these new requirements, NCC needed to place community engagement and neighbourhood empowerment at the heart of its
Mutual Ventures
Oct 31, 20253 min read
The fork in the road: Will councils take the chance to transform?
As resources tighten, councils are at risk of diminishing to simply being a provider of last resort, statutory public services. In this blog, Kate Copeland and Ross Murray argue that this can’t be allowed to happen. They reflect on their recent work with Norfolk County Council (NCC) to develop a new Community Engagement Model focused on creating a practical path for councils to become true partners with the communities they serve as well as other parts of the public sector.
Ross Murray
Oct 22, 20256 min read
Failure Demand...the hidden cost of doing the wrong thing well
When systems are designed around trust and relationships, they create change. Sophie Coles argues that great public services are about...
Sophie Coles
Oct 13, 20252 min read
Radical Reformers ep.104: From Whitehall to Local Authority, with Helen Bailey, Chief Executive of Sutton Council
In the latest episode of Radical Reformers, I talk to Helen Bailey, Chief Executive of Sutton Council. Helen brings the rare experience...
Andrew Laird
Oct 2, 20251 min read
What's stopping us?
When it comes to public service reform, large swathes of public services have been experiencing “delivery paralysis”. In this article, Prof Donna Hall and Andrew Laird explore why this is and what can be done about it. This article kicks off an Autumn of content from the Mutual Ventures team focused on supporting a stronger delivery focus in public services. #GettingStuffDone #DoingTheRightStuff!! Where we’ve been – and where we are… Reading the conference programmes for this
Andrew Laird
Sep 19, 20259 min read
The Efficiency Fallacy: Why finding savings in siloed services is fundamentally flawed
Andrew Laird argues that leaders must reject the short-termism of traditional approaches to achieving efficiency savings. Instead, they...
Andrew Laird
Sep 5, 20257 min read
Webinar catch up - Trusting place: Improving the lives of local people through place-based approaches
Catch up on our webinar 'Trusting Place' , which discussed the findings of our report to the LGA on place-based working, held on 6th...
Mutual Ventures
Aug 6, 20251 min read
Beyond the Test Drive: Turning prototypes into sustainable public service reform
T he spending review has given government departments some medium-term budget certainty and with it, the opportunity to launch multi-year...
Andrew Laird
Jul 31, 20257 min read
Case Study: Local Government Association Place-based Policy
Client: Local Government Association (LGA) Date: October 2024 - February 2025 Challenges faced by the client: Local government is facing complex challenges which can only be addressed by breaking down service siloes and establishing more effective relationship between central and local. In the context of a new Government and substantial changes to devolved powers and local government structures, the Local Government Association (LGA) therefore sought to identify views from se
Mutual Ventures
Jul 28, 20252 min read
Radical Reformers ep.100: Public Service Reform Special - Part 2: Trusting Place with Eve Roodhouse, LGA, Simon Kaye, Re:State and MV Non-Exec Director, Professor Donna Hall
This is episode 100 of the Radical Reformers podcast! We wanted to take the opportunity to thank all the guests who have taken the time...
Andrew Laird
Jul 9, 20252 min read
REPORT: From Transaction to Transformation
We have published a new guide for councils going through the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) process – the focus is on the...
Mutual Ventures
Jun 26, 20252 min read
Radical Reformers ep.99: Public Service Reform Special - Part 1: Relational Practice with Rob Wilson, Kathy Evans, Emma Lord, Ron Charlton, Toby Lowe, and Wendy Lansdown
The next two episodes of the Radical Reformers podcast will be a bit different (and hopefully a treat for the public service reform nerds...
Andrew Laird
Jun 26, 20252 min read
When Power Forgets the People
In this article, Prof. Donna Hall and Andrew Laird recognise the challenge now faced by public service leaders and set out a positive set...
Andrew Laird
Jun 23, 20257 min read
On demand - Beyond the Spending Review: Rebuilding financial sustainability and trust
Watch our recent webinar that reflected on the Spending Review announcement on the 11th June and the impact on local government. Almost...
Mutual Ventures
Jun 11, 20251 min read
Radical Reformers ep.96: Leading a turnaround with Kath O'Dwyer, former Chief Executive of St Helens Council and Chair of SOLACE
In this new episode of Radical Reformers, I chat with Kath O'Dwyer, former Chief Executive of St Helens Council and Chair of S OLACE . ...
Andrew Laird
May 15, 20251 min read
REPORT - Children's Services and Local Government Reorganisation (LGR): Key Considerations
Our latest report explores Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and the significant opportunity it brings to reshape and improve the...
Emmet Regan
May 14, 20252 min read
Radical Reformers ep.95: All in for Greater Manchester with Caroline Simpson, Chief Executive of Greater Manchester Combined Authority
In this latest episode of Radical Reformers, I'm joined by Caroline Simpson, Chief Executive of Greater Manchester Combined Authority...
Andrew Laird
May 1, 20251 min read
Radical Reformers ep.94: Creating Community Agency with Graeme Duncan, Chief Executive of Right to Succeed
In this new episode of Radical Reformers, I chat to Graeme Duncan, Chief Executive of Right to Succeed, a charity that supports...
Andrew Laird
Apr 17, 20251 min read
Radical Place Leadership: The Public Money that Falls Between the Silos
This long-read article by Andrew Laird and Prof. Donna Hall sets out a new way of considering public money across a “place” and provides...
Andrew Laird
Apr 5, 202513 min read
Radical Reformers ep.93: The Business of Running a Council with Graham Farrant, Chief Executive of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council
In this new episode of Radical Reformers, I chat to Graham Farrant, Chief Executive of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council....
Andrew Laird
Apr 3, 20251 min read