The mince-pie hangover is wearing off, and – as we all know – this can be the point where the January gloom creeps in.
While reading “year in review” posts in the run-up to Christmas, it got us thinking: rather than looking back, what if we used this moment to look forward? Maybe we could lift the gloom by kicking off 2026 with some of the things we’re really looking forward to.
Making a difference through delivery work
Last year, we worked with more than 70 clients – including councils, combined authorities, public bodies and companies. That work included scrutiny reviews, governance improvement work and learning and development, as well as learning events, case studies and guidance for the sector.
But what really matters in all the work we do is the tangible impact it can have on decision-making – and on people’s lives. That’s why in 2026 we’re not just looking forward to continuing to make those differences across everything we do, but to understanding from our clients how that work translates into real-world differences for people and places.
We’ll be collecting case studies, learning guides and resources from these experiences, which you can find in our resources section.
Seeing what comes next for Elevate
Over the past year, we developed and began piloting our Elevate course, for officers who are leading scrutiny.
Eleven officers from across the country – including from a combined authority, and an office of a police and crime commissioner – are taking part in Elevate.
They’re developing their leadership in the scrutiny space, with self-development through group learning with peers – and developing new skills, knowledge and confidence.
Our attention is now turning to what we can learn from this pilot. We’re excited to see where this goes, how our first cohort of Elevate participants benefit from the programme, and what it means for our wider work in 2026.
Our annual conference: 12 March 2026
Our annual conference is always a highlight for us – a moment to pause, come together, test ideas and advance debate across the sector.
This year, we’ll be marking 25 years of overview and scrutiny and the Local Government Act 2000, making it the perfect moment to reflect on how far we’ve come – and to ask how the next five, 10 and 25 years might look for local democracy.
We’re looking forward to the conversations this will spark, and to the shared learning, challenge and reflection we’ll take part in at a pivotal moment for local government.
Learning and working with colleagues and partners
We don’t do this work alone. Some of the most valuable insights we gain come from working with people and organisations who are exploring similar questions around accountability, standards, assurance and democratic leadership.
We saw that clearly last year – at our conference, through the many invaluable contributions from colleagues across the sector, and in our work with the London Assembly delivering a conference on mayoral scrutiny at a pivotal moment for its development. Events, partnerships and shared projects all offered opportunities to build common purpose and new ways of working.
In the year ahead, we’re looking forward to deepening these relationships, exploring new partnerships, and continuing to share what we’re learning along the way.
Helping and supporting our sector as it changes
Over the past year, we’ve increasingly seen organisations come to us with bigger, more strategic questions about how their governance and scrutiny need to develop and improve.
That’s not surprising, given how rapidly the sector – and the wider democratic landscape – is shifting. Government plans for devolution, reorganisation and public sector reform are set to take centre stage in 2026.
As we made clear in our submission to the Bill Committee last September, there are gaps in the government’s plans for devolution in England – particularly around how scrutiny responds to the increased powers held by mayors, and wider questions of standards and accountability.
We’re looking forward to learning how these challenges are addressed, and whether further legislation follows. But this isn’t just about what government announces. It’s also about understanding, as we highlighted in our work on neighbourhood governance, the opportunities this moment creates to shape better democracy.
We’re excited to be part of that work through our support to clients, our engagement with government, and our wider efforts to strengthen governance and scrutiny.
Read more about neighbourhood governance and mayoral scrutiny.
What are you looking forward to?
What are you really hoping will happen this year – and what are you relishing getting stuck into? We’d love to hear from you. Drop us a line at info@cfgs.org.uk.
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