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Sarah-Joy Lewis, Head of LGR & Transformation at Local Partnerships, reflects on the launch of the joint ADEPT and Local Partnerships publication, Navigating Highways Services through Local Government Reorganisation Toolkit, and why practical, sector led support is vital as we navigate one of the biggest changes facing local government. Drawing on collaboration with ADEPT members and local authorities (LAs) already experiencing change, she explores the risks, opportunities and the importance of getting highways services right through LGR.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) is moving quickly. With decisions already made in five areas and more expected this summer, many authorities are grappling with what these changes mean for services on the ground. For highways teams in particular, the scale and complexity of what lies ahead cannot be underestimated.

This is why ADEPT and Local Partnerships worked together to develop the Navigating Highways Services through Local Government Reorganisation Toolkit. Launched at the ADEPT Spring Conference in May, the toolkit is designed to support those working in highways services who are going through LGR; whether in strategic leadership roles or operational delivery teams. To find out more register to attend our webinar on 4th June, 10:00-11:30 here

It aims to provide practical guidance on what needs to happen throughout the process, supported by clear checklists and structured advice to help authorities cover everything they need to consider.

It’s not overstating matters to say that highways services are one of the most visible functions a local authority delivers. Residents see and experience the condition of roads, footways and transport infrastructure every day, making highways a service that is closely tied to public confidence. During a period of organisational change, maintaining that confidence matters enormously.

Identifying the need

As we spoke to colleagues across the sector, it became increasingly clear that there was a real need for highways specific support during periods of huge change like LGR. Authorities were concerned that the same work and approaches risked being reinvented repeatedly across different areas. There was a strong appetite to bring together learning from those who had already experienced reorganisation and combine it with the insight of those now preparing for it. By working closely with ADEPT members, we were able to shape guidance grounded in operational reality rather than theory alone.

The collaboration with practitioners was essential. Without it, the toolkit would have been disconnected from the day-to-day challenges that highways professionals face. Instead, the process allowed us to focus directly on the key risks, the ‘pain points’ and opportunities identified by those delivering services on the ground. We hope the result is something genuinely practical and useful for authorities navigating change.

Highways services bring particular complexities within reorganisation. Roads and transport networks do not simply stop at local authority boundaries, and neither do the journeys people make every day. Where services are being disaggregated or boundaries redrawn, authorities must think carefully about continuity, coordination and connectivity across networks. 

Existing contract arrangements can also add further layers of complexity and stakeholder management. At the same time, highways teams are managing wider pressures linked to decarbonisation, climate resilience and devolution, all of which increase delivery risk during transition.

Helping our sector to navigate this journey

The toolkit is intended to support authorities throughout that journey. It has been designed so users can dip in and out depending on what is most relevant to them at a particular stage. The first section provides broader context and background, helping highways professionals explain how LGR impacts their service and wider organisational priorities. Later sections focus on detailed checklists and practical actions. 

Whether teams are undertaking baselining work, planning future delivery models or developing outline business cases, the toolkit is there to help ensure nothing important is overlooked.

Importantly, the toolkit is not only about managing risk. Organisational change also creates opportunities to reflect, reset and rethink how services operate. Authorities that make the most of LGR will be those willing to use this moment to think differently about service delivery, technology, processes and collaboration.

Bringing services together within new unitary authorities can create opportunities for stronger strategic alignment across areas such as public spaces, housing delivery and local economic development. It can also help authorities embed continuous improvement and resilience into their foundations from the outset. Done well, reorganisation should become a catalyst for transformation rather than simply a structural exercise.

Collaborative creativity

One of the most positive aspects of developing the toolkit has been seeing once again how collaborative the local government sector can be. Everyone involved in the workshops and discussions brought considerable expertise and experience, despite already managing significant day jobs and growing pressures. 

There was a shared willingness to support peers, share learning openly and help develop something that would benefit the wider sector. That spirit of collaboration is one of local government’s greatest strengths and a reminder of why it remains such a rewarding sector to work in.

Highways services also do not operate in isolation. The decisions made through reorganisation connect directly to wider priorities around climate resilience, economic growth, financial sustainability and place leadership. Strong highways services are a key part of creating resilient and thriving places. 

For authorities earlier in the LGR process, the scale of change can understandably feel overwhelming. Our advice is to start with baselining. Gathering together existing information, structures and service arrangements provides a manageable and practical first step. From there, authorities can begin identifying the operational requirements needed before vesting day, while also thinking about the longer-term transformation opportunities they want to build into future delivery models.

This toolkit is only one part of the wider support available. Local Partnerships and ADEPT are continuing to work together through a series of webinars exploring highways and LGR issues in more detail, including the implications for Public Rights of Way. Additional guidance covering other service areas and processes is also in development, including a forthcoming LGR Programme Management Office (PMO) Toolkit.

Periods of change on this scale are never easy, but they do provide an opportunity to shape how local services are delivered for years to come. By sharing knowledge, learning from each other and focusing on practical delivery, the sector has an opportunity to navigate reorganisation successfully, building stronger and more resilient services in the process.

Further information 

• Find out more about the Navigating Highways Services through Local Government Reorganisation Toolkit.
• Discover more about ADEPT partners and collaborations.

Author

Sarah-Joy Lewis is Head of LGR & Transformation at Local Partnerships