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In its 2025 Report on Citizen Engagement and Participation and Local Governance in Europe, the European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA) examined the importance of government bodies working together with community members. It states that “effective local governance and meaningful citizen engagement are essential to ensuring that democratic systems remain responsive, inclusive and trusted.”  This is especially relevant when, as the EU’s Community Research and Development Information Service (CORDIS) reports, “In Europe, there is growing disaffection and a lack of trust in democratic processes, driven by widening inequalities and anxieties concerning social, economic and cultural change.”  CORDIS quotes James Scott,...

A 2024 Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) survey of English citizens found that only 43% trusted local councillors to work in the best interests of local people and that 62% wanted greater insight into how councils took decisions. These results feed into each other. The more we know about the processes involved in converting our local taxes into services for the community, the more we can trust those processes are carried out with the right intentions.  Transparency over decision-making and service delivery allows the public to hold local government organisations accountable for their actions. In turn, this encourages councillors to...

The government of the Netherlands is currently implementing a range of reforms to improve transparency and accountability in government. From Wet digitale overheid (Wdo) creating standards for digital interaction and Wet open overheid (Woo) dictating which materials governing bodies should make public to Wet hergebruik overheidsinformatie (Who), which demands that bodies must hold public information in an accessible format to allow other organisations to reuse it for other purposes.  This ongoing government digital transformation may lead to an increased burden when carrying out processes within your council. The need to produce documentation in a timely manner, in the correct format,...

As scrutiny of the UK’s water sector continues to grow, boards across water companies, regional authorities and partnerships are under more pressure than ever to demonstrate strong governance, transparency and accountability. From Ofwat’s corporate governance expectations to the Environment Agency’s requirements for transparency and risk management, effective meeting processes are vital to ensure compliance and sound decision-making. This article explains how boards in the UK water sector can strengthen their meetings – from preparation to follow-up – to ensure both regulatory compliance and operational efficiency. Key takeaways How to run effective board meetings 1. Preparation Develop a clear and focused...

When the vote counting ends and returning officers confirm the results, the real work begins for councils across the UK. Newly elected members are sworn in, committees formed, and meetings scheduled – all while councils continue to uphold their transparency and accountability obligations under the Local Government Act and Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation. Balancing these responsibilities can be challenging, especially for democratic services teams and council officers already managing heavy workloads. The key to maintaining strong, transparent governance lies in embracing digital processes. This article explores how replacing paper-based systems and streamlining workflows can improve the quality, speed and...