Category: Blog
Test Valley Borough Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Speaking to Test Valley’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Mel Stevens considers what effective scrutiny looks like in a time of devolution, local government reorganisation and political change, and sets out five tests for developing a strong scrutiny work programme
CIPFA Local Government Deputy Chief Finance Officer Summit
Ian Parry joins sector leaders at CIPFA’s Local Government Deputy CFO Summit 2026 to explore how stronger governance, scrutiny and organisational culture can help councils make better decisions and build resilience under pressure
Election 2026 special: Managing change
With the 2026 elections set to reshape local power, this blog explores how councils can navigate uncertainty and respond effectively to sudden political change
Getting ahead of the local election results
Read this to stay one step ahead of local election results – understand what’s changing, what it means for your council, and how to respond with confidence
Setting up the Scrutiny Review Library: what we learned
Find out more about some of the key lessons we learned about what works – and what doesn’t – when building a shared resource to support better, more connected scrutiny across the sector
CfGS announces team changes and welcomes new senior appointments
We are welcoming two new staff and saying goodbye to Ed and Camilla
What we’re looking forward to at CfGS in 2026
We’re looking ahead to a year of learning, collaboration and impact in 2026
First reflections on Holding mayors to account: The future of scrutiny in devolved government
Camilla, Ed and Andrew reflect on the CfGS and London Assembly co-hosted conference dedicated to mayoral scrutiny
Making the map meaningful: identity and place governance in England’s new local state
The English Devolution Bill will reshape local governance through larger councils, stronger mayoral authorities and new neighbourhood duties. The challenge now is ensuring these new boundaries become real places – with identity, legitimacy and meaningful democratic connection