In December 2024, the government released the devolution whitepaper outlining proposed plans to widen and deepen devolution across England and give local councils greater control by transferring powers and funding from national to local government.
This process will involve Local Government Reorganisation and a move from two-tier authorities to combined unitary authorities and aims to streamline local governance by improving efficiency and accountability, ultimately leading to more responsive public services.
One example is West Northamptonshire Council, which was formed in 2021 when Northamptonshire County Council and seven district councils merged to form two unitary authorities – West and North Northamptonshire. The new unitary authority faced the challenge of integrating these various organisations, aligning processes, procedures, and policies, while also working to build a new culture and employer brand for its workforce of over 2,700 employees.
Sam Goody, Associate Director at Opus People Solutions, recently spoke to Alison Golding, Assistant Director of Workforce and Transformation at West Northamptonshire Council, about her experience managing her workforce through one of the UK’s largest Unitary transformations and the experience, advice and lessons learned that can support future councils undergoing a similar process.
Read the full interview, here: Workforce Solutions for a Changing Landscape - Interview with Alison Golding Assistant Director of Workforce and Transformation, West Northamptonshire Council
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