At a Glance…
In the latter half of 2025, Peopletoo supported twelve local authorities through the development of their Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) proposals. Our role spanned PMO support, LGR report writing, evidence development and the strengthening of business cases to ensure each council could confidently articulate its preferred unitary model.
Our work centred on building robust, evidence-led cases with a strong focus on Adult Social Care (ASC), Children’s Services and education. This involved detailed demographic analysis, performance benchmarking, financial modelling and the creation of a Target Operating Model (TOM) supported by a clear implementation plan aligned to statutory deadlines.
While the full long-term impact of the LGR proposals is still emerging, councils were able to submit compelling, well‑evidenced business cases with strengthened rationale for their preferred structural options.
The Challenge
Local authorities needed to develop compelling strategic business cases to justify their preferred unitary model as part of LGR.
With ASC and Children’s Services representing the most significant areas of spend, councils had to clearly demonstrate that demand trends, demographic pressures, performance issues and long‑term financial sustainability had been fully assessed.
The core challenge was to build a compelling narrative that:
Our Approach & Delivery
We built a robust, data‑driven evidence base by blending publicly available datasets with council‑provided information. This enabled a clear, credible assessment of demographics, deprivation, performance, demand and financial pressures across ASC, Children’s Services and education.
Evidence & Insight
We quickly generated a comprehensive analytical picture by:
This created a clear, consistent evidence base to underpin model options and make performance and financial challenges transparent.
TOM & Delivery Planning
Using the evidence base, we co‑designed a TOM for ASC built around:
The TOM was translated into a detailed implementation plan aligned to statutory deadlines, supported by clear enablers, risks and governance. A phased 2025–2030 roadmap set out the steps for a safe and coherent LGR transition, alongside a standalone transition plan showing how ASC, Children’s Services and SEND could move safely and lawfully into new unitary structures—ensuring service continuity, financial sustainability and strengthened accountability to MHCLG, DfE and DHSC.
Outcomes Achieved
Councils were able to submit stronger, evidence‑based business cases that clearly set out the rationale for their preferred unitary models. Our support delivered:
Client feedback has been very positive. Two examples are set out below:
“Peopletoo have provided invaluable support to my own and partner Councils through our LGR journey to date. They assisted with the submission of our Final Proposal, undertaking detailed analysis, benchmarking, financial modelling and critical appraisal. I have found them to be responsive, good value for money and able to offer expert and user friendly advice across a wide range of local authority functions.”
“Peopletoo and their work have been of great help to my Council and to our partner Councils in preparing our submission regarding Local Government Reorganisation. The research has been authoritative, exemplary and eye opening; the advice and input has been open and challenging in a good way. They have been flexible both in preparing the submission response and afterwards as well as aiding our intelligence gathering. All together with a fair pricing regime, it is what a modern positive consultancy looks and feels like.”
