Innovation in local government is about improving the lives of the people in our
communities. Browse through our case studies to see the many innovative programmes councils are involved
in.
Over the last three years, Surrey County Council has developed a collaborative plan with trusted partners across the county to support residents with reducing energy bills, keeping homes warm and free of damp and mould, and reducing residential carbon emissions, which account for around 30 per cent of Surrey’s total.
Carbon Literacy is an awareness of the carbon dioxide costs, greenhouse gas emissions, and impacts of everyday activities. We're a Carbon Literate Organisation. In 2023, we received our Bronze Carbon Literacy Organisational Award. We offer this training in-house to our staff and councillors. We can offer this course to our community leaders and our town and parish councils.
Central Bedfordshire Council worked in partnership with Community Energy South to enable and support community energy projects from concept to feasibility through the Pathways programme. The Pathways started at the end of 2022 with engagement with residents and after two years of support there are three active groups, constituted as Community Benefit Societies.
Central Bedfordshire Council’s Staff Networks are integral for staff wellbeing and helping to make positive changes to policies, procedures and the staff experience.
South Gloucestershire Council is committed to working with its communities and partners to tackle inequalities in all areas of life. In 2024 the council published a four-year tackling inequalities plan, which sets out a whole-council strategic approach to tackling inequalities in 10 areas of life – including health and wellbeing.
Using partnership working to secure affordable housing for key workers, those on the council's housing register on a site which previously didn't have any.