Local government is changing - how do we work together?

As local government undergoes major changes, NAVCA is committed to ensuring our members and the communities they support are ready to navigate both the challenges and opportunities ahead. In this blog, Maddy Desforges OBE, NAVCA CEO, explores these changes and how NAVCA is working alongside ACRE to support the VCSE sector.

‍

By 2029, every area of England will have a Strategic Authority (SA), and all two-tier councils will transition to unitary authorities by 2028. These reforms reshape local decision-making and bring both opportunities and challenges for the VCSE sector, LIOs, and rural community support organisations. The VCSE sector plays a key role in creating thriving communities and must be fully included as a strategic partner in shaping these new structures to build on that.

‍

The VCSE sector contributes to delivering vital public services, yet its role is often overlooked in public sector reforms. This is a crucial moment to ensure the sector shapes new strategic and unitary authorities, influencing their priorities and ways of working. These changes risk disrupting funding, partnerships, and commissioning, making it essential for communities and the VCSE sector to have a say.

‍

The VCSE sector has a role to play in all seven areas of responsibility that strategic authorities will take on: transport and local infrastructure; skills and employment support; housing and strategic planning; economic development and regeneration; environment and climate change; health, wellbeing and public service reform; and public safety. Strong partnerships can enhance impact across these areas, ensuring local knowledge and expertise shape decision-making. Without VCSE involvement, local government risks weaker connections to communities and missed opportunities for meaningful change.

‍

With all two-tier councils required to submit unitary proposals by March 2025, VCSE organisations must prepare for major shifts in governance and geography, especially if they are used to working with district or county councils. As decisions move to a higher level, strategies will be needed to maintain community influence and rebuild relationships. With local government already under financial pressure, there is a real risk of funding cuts and disruptions to procurement. Adapting to new structures will take time, and ensuring VCSE voices are heard will be crucial in shaping the future.

‍

At NAVCA, we are delighted to be working in partnership with ACRE. We will identify and respond to the risks and opportunities, as we are concerned that these new authorities could consolidate power in ways that marginalise local voluntary action and disrupt key relationships, especially with health systems, public health, and local resilience. NAVCA and ACRE are working with partners, including the VCS Emergencies Partnership, to influence central and local government as we go through these changes. We will:

‍

• offer leadership for the VCSE sector, local infrastructure and rural community support networks

• advocate for the VCSE sector to be a strategic partner in the transitions to the new governance structures, bringing expertise to the table and influencing decisions

• enable relationships with the VCSE to be formed at unitary and strategic levels

• create conditions where the sector’s knowledge and experience are brought directly into decision-making

• work with MHCLG, DEFRA and other central government departments to ensure that connections to and outcomes for communities, the VCSE sector and LIOs are a core part of the changes

• mitigate the risks of further funding reductions associated with new budgets and commissioning arrangements.  

‍

If you haven’t already, now is the time to find out what’s happening in your area and collaborate with local partners to ensure a coordinated and strategic response. Talk to your local NAVCA and ACRE members to find out more.

‍

This is a critical time for communities, and I am excited for the opportunities these changes bring to get the expertise, knowledge and insight of the VCSE sector directly into these new structures. Our next blog will focus on the initial proposals for new unitary authorities and how these changes could affect the VCSE sector.

‍