The LGA has launched its Sector Support Offer for 2026/27 for councils and combined authorities across England.
The Local Government Association (LGA) has launched its Sector Support Offer for 2026/27, providing councils and combined authorities across England with a comprehensive package of support to drive improvement, strengthen leadership and deliver better outcomes for communities.
The offer launches at a critical moment for the sector, which is responding to changes following local elections, ongoing financial pressures, growing demands for local services, and the next phase of devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR).
Rooted in the LGA’s long-standing sector-led improvement model, the offer brings together peer-led expertise, practical tools and tailored advice to help councils manage change, improve performance and build resilience.
The 2026/27 programme has been directly shaped by engagement with councillors and officers, ensuring it reflects the real-world priorities facing local authorities.
A core component of this year’s support offer for councils and combined authorities is responding to challenges and opportunities at a time of unprecedented change.
As well as LGR, marking the most significant structural change to local government in more than 50 years, many councils are navigating leadership changes and corresponding shifts following local elections. The LGA’s regional teams, Political Group Offices and experienced member and officer peers are working with councils to support smooth transitions, strengthen relationships between political and managerial leadership, and ensure authorities are well supported in continuing to provide services residents rely on.
Corporate Peer Challenges remain central to the offer, providing councils with robust, credible and sector-led challenge on leadership, governance, finance, performance and organisational culture. For councils undergoing major change, Corporate Peer Challenges and progress reviews can be tailored to support transitions, improvement planning and assurance.
Latest feedback shows that 100 per cent of councils said LGA support had helped their council, 97 per cent reported improved knowledge, skills and understanding, and 100 per cent of councils receiving a Corporate Peer Challenge reported positive outcomes.
Demand for support continues to grow. In 2025/26 alone, the LGA delivered over 3,400 instances of direct support and 1,500 days of peer support free at the point of delivery, saving the sector at least £1.5 million.
More than 2,500 councillors participated in LGA training and development last year, with programmes supporting councillors at all stages of their leadership journey. This sits alongside officer leadership programmes delivered with sector partners, including support for chief executives, statutory officers and future senior leaders.
New for 2026/27 is a pilot Aspiring Chief Executive programme, strengthening the leadership pipeline and helping councils build the capacity and capability needed to meet future challenges.
The offer also includes support for councils responding to workforce and HR pressures, including workforce planning, employment reform, equal pay, capacity and capability challenges, and the workforce implications of local government reorganisation.
Finance support remains a core part of the programme, with councils able to access expert advice and help with meeting challenges on financial resilience, sustainability, audit and improvement. This includes support from experienced Finance Improvement and Sustainability Advisers (FISAs), including current and former chief finance officers.
The offer also provides a wide range of service specific and specialist programmes, supporting councils to improve services and deliver local priorities. This includes support for adult social care and public health through Partners in Care and Health and children’s services improvement support and place based programmes, such as One Public Estate (OPE), Planning Advisory Service (PAS) and access to our Joint Inspection Team (JIT).
New and expanded grant-funded activity will also strengthen the wider sector support offer in priority areas where councils are facing acute or emerging pressures, including local resilience and areas such as community cohesion, and culture and sport.
Digital, data and cyber resilience also remain key priorities, with support to help councils make effective use of data, strengthen cyber preparedness and explore the opportunities and risks of new technologies, including AI. The LGA’s freely available, award-winning LG Inform platform continues to provide councils with access to thousands of local-level data metrics to support benchmarking, decision-making and improvement, including a new report configured to available metrics within the Local Outcomes Framework.
Chair of the LGA’s Improvement Committee, Cllr Peter Mason, said:
“Councils are at the forefront of supporting communities through a period of significant change and challenge. Our Sector Support Offer for 2026/27 ensures that every authority, regardless of size or resources, can access high-quality, practical support when they need it most.
“What makes this offer unique is that it is designed and delivered by the sector itself. Councillors and officers bring invaluable, real-world experience as peers, helping councils improve services, strengthen leadership and deliver better outcomes for residents.
“At a time of reform and financial pressure, collaborative, peer-led support not only drives improvement but delivers real value for money. It helps councils innovate, build resilience and respond confidently to the opportunities ahead.”
Councils and combined authorities can find out more about the 2026/27 Sector Support Offer by visiting the LGA website, contacting their regional team or Political Group Office.