Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) is the biggest shake-up to local government for almost 50 years. It involves disrupting established ways of working, cultural clashes, and reshaping service delivery in a way that offers true transformational opportunities.
Communication challenges will persist throughout, but none are insurmountable. From managing the spread of misinformation to maintaining trust throughout periods of uncertainty, effective communication is vital to navigating LGR successfully.
Here, we break down some of the communications fears councils face during LGR and offer practical solutions to overcome them.
1. Tackling misinformation
The challenge: Structural change in local government is an emotive and political issue. It’s easy for false or incomplete narratives to spread both outside and within an organisation, sometimes deliberately in order to undermine an opposing position or proposal. This is such negative energy and campaigning, but must be addressed.
The solution:
Be proactive, clear, and consistent. Focus on the credibility of your position with compelling data that aligns with your developing business case. Always reference your source. Use multiple channels to communicate updates early and often. Address any rumours directly.
2. Lack of transparency
The challenge: A lack of openness about things like goals, timelines, and potential impacts of LGR can break down trust and morale. When people feel like they’re being kept in the dark, they can easily assume the worst or become disengaged.
The solution: Prioritise transparency by sharing the bigger picture as well as the smaller details. Regularly update employees, partners, and communities on any progress and decisions made. Beyond facts, share the purpose behind the reorganisation; for example, focusing on benefits like improved services or greater resilience. For staff, you may be able to promote the possibility of better progression routes or improved operating processes. Town halls, FAQs, and dedicated project communications channels can help make transparency a consistent priority.
3. Engaging stakeholders
The challenge: LGR affects a wide range of stakeholders, from council employees and residents to partner organisations and suppliers. Ensuring everyone feels heard and involved can be an enormous challenge, especially when the timeline for doing so is incredibly tight.
The solution: Segment and tailor your engagement strategies to different stakeholder groups. For staff, create two-way communication opportunities like workshops or feedback forums. For residents, publish easy-to-understand content and create clear opportunities for those who want to to share their views. Build strong partnerships with key influencers like local business leaders or interest groups who can amplify your messages to their networks to help gain further input.
4. Maintaining trust during turbulent times
The challenge: Periods of significant change often lead to scepticism. People want to know that their perspectives are valued, and they worry about whether services will be maintained or improved. Staff are concerned for their future livelihoods.
The solution: Maintain a consistent dialogue and take the time to create genuine opportunities to listen. Actively listen, actively share, acknowledge dissent, concerns and issues, while also outlining what actions are being taken to address them. Use multiple channels to communicate updates early and often. Be open about what is known and what is still being decided. Involve staff in the future shape of their own services and show the organisation as a whole how that’s happening.
5. Resistance to change
The challenge: Any one of the above can result resistance to change among staff, stakeholders, and residents. A combination, as can easily be the case, can create outright dissent.
The solution: By proactively engaging with your stakeholders, staff and residents, communicating openly and tackling misinformation head-on, you can help to maintain trust and minimise resistance to change. Change champions within teams can also help spread accurate information and promote positivity.
Successfully navigating the communication challenges of LGR requires a strategic and empathetic approach.
At Trueman Change, we specialise in supporting councils through complex transformations like LGR. Our expertise in communications and engagement can help you develop tailored strategies to address these challenges head-on and ensure your reorganisation achieves its full potential.
Want to know more? We’re holding an online Change Chat on Friday 30 May on Communications and Engagement in LGR. Register today!
Or, get in touch with one of our team to learn how we can help your council communicate effectively throughout LGR!
Do you want to talk to one of our expert team about your own LGR challenges? Get in touch with us today!
