Localism

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Westminster has proclaimed a move away from Whitehall. There will be greater freedoms for local authorities, new forms of local organisation and new types of democracy. Local bodies will provide public services that were previously the preserve of Central Government. Charities and social enterprises will bid to play a greater role. Businesses will need to develop better relationships with local government and local government itself will need to be better understood and respected by the people it serves.

The Local Government Futures Team at Linstock provides simple, jargon free advice and practical assistance to organisations trying to understand this complicated environment and get their message across. Armed with a firm grasp of government policy we can help you build strong relationships with local, regional and national partners and engage in the debates that matter, through speaker platforms, contact programmes, and the media.

Client case studies

  • Regional Cities East

    Brief: Although 12 million people live in England’s Smaller Cities, where 28 per cent of all jobs are located, economic and social policy has tended to overlook the role of these urban centres. RCE, a partnership of six cities in the East of England, hired Linstock to help engage the cities in public policy debates on planning, housing and economic development.

    Activity: Linstock devised the Bigger Thinking for Smaller Cities programme, a thought leadership series of reports and seminars through which RCE shared best practice with other smaller cities, engaged with businesses and policy makers and developed fresh ideas to further the growth and success of urban areas. Linstock wrote reports on the economic and cultural lives of smaller cities, staged discussions for RCE representatives with policy makers and politicians and raised the profile of smaller city thinking through the national and trade press.

    Results: RCE is widely recognised as the voice of smaller cities in national debates on localism and urban development.

  • The Greater Norwich Development Partnership

    Brief: Tasked with delivering more than 40,000 homes in the next 15 years, this partnership of local authorities turned to Linstock for advice on communicating with local residents.

    Activity: Linstock worked closely with each of the council’s in-house communications teams to devise a shared set of key messages and communications tools to demonstrate the value of the partnership to local residents and businesses, as well as how prepared it is to deliver on government housing priorities. We worked with our print and design partners to produce regular newsletters and publicity leaflets.

    Results: The partnership has reaped the rewards of government recognition, with existing funding allocations increased and major project proposals being shortlisted. This includes the partnership’s innovative eco-community proposal, which was the only such plan nationally to be recognised as viable. This has been reflected in positive local, national, and specialist press coverage.

  • Community Foundation Network

    Brief: Representative body of the Community Foundations, the Community Foundation Network (CFN) asked Linstock to provide information and insight on Third Sector issues, increase media and stakeholder awareness of the CFN and improve communications between the CFN and its members.

    Activity: Linstock developed a monthly report analysing key developments in the Third Sector. The reports also identified media coverage for all Community Foundations, providing a series of ‘top tips’ to maximise media coverage. Linstock developed a series of template press releases for members to use to generate media coverage and held Parliamentary receptions to engage with political stakeholders.

    Results: Linstock helped to double media coverage of Community Foundations within six months in national and trade press while successfully sharing best practice media methods between members.