Our Partnership
Lead and Strategic Partners
The Local Government Reorganisation Initiative is delivered through a formal partnership of organisations with complementary expertise in governance, public policy, academic research, practitioner insight and citizen engagement.
Our partners are:
- COALFACE Engagement Ltd
- Centre for Britain and Europe (University of Surrey)
- ECF – Engage Communicate Facilitate
- Commonplace
- Truth About Local Government
Together, these partners ensure that the Initiative combines academic strength, practical insight, community engagement technology and sector-wide perspective.
How the Partnership Works
The partnership operates on defined principles that ensure quality, relevance and institutional integrity:
- Independence and role clarity: Each partner retains its own governance and decision-making structures, contributing discreet expertise without compromising autonomy.
- Structured collaboration: Outputs are developed through staged review with clear allocation of research, drafting, engagement and dissemination responsibilities.
- Integrated expertise: Academic research, practice-led insight, technology-enabled engagement and sector perspectives are combined to produce outputs that are credible, practical and widely relevant.
Supporting Better Governance
Through this partnership, the LGR Initiative ensures that local government reform is evaluated and guided using robust evidence, sector insight, community engagement technologies and leadership-oriented resources. This strengthens the capacity of decision-makers and communities to navigate change with clarity, coherence and public trust.
Editorial policy and independence
The LGR Initiative operates a clear separation between partner contribution and editorial decision making. Partner input is welcomed and used to improve accuracy, completeness and usefulness, including through suggestions, factual checks, and specialist review. Coalface remains accountable for the final content that appears on the site, including how sources are used, how methodology is applied, and how outputs are presented and updated over time. The Centre for Britain and Europe provides academic support to strengthen rigour, support transparency, and reinforce an evidence led approach.
Partners are encouraged to input, challenge and contribute within their area of expertise, including by informing research questions, highlighting sources, and participating in structured review. Editorial decisions, publication judgements, and final wording remain the responsibility of Coalface.
COALFACE Engagement Ltd
COALFACE Engagement Ltd is a UK-based communications consultancy specialising in stakeholder engagement, public consultation and strategic insight for planning and governance reforms. COALFACE publishes the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Series, providing independent analysis of structural reform, governance models and service outcomes in England. Its expertise supports evidence-informed debate that centres residents and decision makers.
Centre for Britain and Europe (University of Surrey)
The Centre for Britain and Europe is a research centre within the School of Politics and International Relations at the University of Surrey. It conducts high-quality policy research on governance, public administration and the UK’s role within evolving political systems. The Centre brings analytic rigour, peer review capability and academic depth to the partnership’s work.
ECF – Engage Communicate Facilitate
ECF (Engage Communicate Facilitate) is a specialist communications and engagement consultancy working across the United Kingdom and Australia. The organisation supports clients in delivering integrated engagement and communications programmes for complex, built environment, infrastructure, planning and regeneration projects. ECF combines advisory services, strategic communications design and facilitation to help clients connect with communities, stakeholders and decision-makers. Their practice blends digital tools with deliberative and in-person engagement techniques, enhancing participation and insight in public decision-making processes.
Commonplace
Commonplace is a digital citizen engagement and community insight platform now part of Zencity. It is used by over 250 local authorities, developers and community organisations to connect residents with planning, policy and place-making decision-making processes. The platform combines interactive tools with analytics to convert resident feedback into actionable insights that support inclusive public consultation and evidence-led decision-making.
Truth About Local Government
Truth About Local Government is a UK-focused sector resource and leadership platform that supports local government officers, councillors and stakeholders through leadership development, practical insights and thought leadership. It hosts a leading podcast and publishes analysis, courses and resources designed to build resilience, improve governance practice and support professional growth within local government. The organisation engages with core challenges facing councils, including transformation, governance design and democratic accountability.
