Centre for Governance and Scrutiny

Time wall with pictures and facts from local government and current affairs stuck slightly haphazardly on a wall

A man gesticulates in front of a wall with pieces of paper containing information stuck messily on a wall with lines between them - from the famous Pepe Silvia, Always Sunny in Philadelphia meme

Our conference – Learning from yesterday, leading for tomorrow – marks 25 years of executive arrangements and overview and scrutiny, following the Local Government Act 2000. We wanted to show how much has happened. Any... erm... resemblance to a famous meme is purely coincidental! #CfGSConf26

Word cloud projected on a wall - including impactful, challenging, collaborative, accountability, empowering, worthwhile, engaging.

The first slido poll at the CfGS Annual Conference In one word, what does good scrutiny feel like when it's working well? #CfGSConf26

A large auditorium screen with an image of a plant pot with the the pot smiling, and the words 'Learning from yesterday, leading for tomorrow'.

It's starting! The first delegates are arriving at the CfGS annual conference for 2026
Thanks to everyone who has helped to support Learning from yesterday, leading for tomorrow – especially our sponsors, the Local Government Association, and Anthony Collins. Thank you so much #CfGSConf26

We're marking the 25 year anniversary at our conference - soon! Find out more, and how you can book tickets here: www.cfgs.org.uk/home/cfgs-an...

Ed Hammond: Governance after 25 years of scrutiny

Twenty five years ago councils were implementing exec arrangements and overview and scrutiny as a result of the Local Government Act of 2000. But as @se13ed.bsky.social points out, the legislation was playing catch-up with innovative councils www.lgcplus.com/politics/gov...

Last chance for early bird tickets for CfGS conference - offer ends after 31 December

The very last chance to get 20 per cent off your ticket price for our Annual Conference in March 2026

At the end of today our offer closes, so visit now to avoid disappointment www.cfgs.org.uk/home/cfgs-an...

⏰ There are just 10 days left to save 20% on your ticket for the CfGS Annual Conference 2026 – offer ends 31 December.

12 March 2026 | 📍 Millennium Point, Birmingham
Book your place now: www.cfgs.org.uk/home/cfgs-an... 

Learning event: The role of constitutions in democratic change 11am to 12.30pm, 17/12/2025

Free online learning event! The role of constitutions in democratic change

11:00-12:30 pm, Dec 17

Explore how to:
- check that your constitution still reflects current practice,
- remains easy to navigate,
- and supports councillors in their role

www.cfgs.org.uk/constitution...

CfGS Annual Conference 2026 - CfGS Learning from yesterday, leading for tomorrow Thursday, 12 March 2026, Millennium Point, Birmingham B4 7AP CfGS’s annual conference in 2026 will be a special one – as we look back on 25 years of…

The CfGS Annual Conference 2026 is your chance to:
✅ Hear from experts and innovators in governance and scrutiny
✅ Take part in interactive sessions and workshops
✅ Connect with peers from across local government
Early bird tickets 20% off until the end of 31 December.
Book now bit.ly/48jrTwn

The role of constitutions in democratic change With May elections coming, this free online event explores how constitutions work, can be kept up to date, and easy to use

👋 Free online learning event! The role of constitutions in democratic change

11:00 am to 12:30 pm, December 17, 2025

A council’s constitution should be a trusted guide for members and officers to understand how to things get done – vital at a time of change.

www.cfgs.org.uk/constitution...

CfGS Annual Conference 2026 - CfGS Learning from yesterday, leading for tomorrow Thursday, 12 March 2026, Millennium Point, Birmingham B4 7AP CfGS’s annual conference in 2026 will be a special one – as we look back on 25 years of…

At CfGS Annual Conference 2026 we'll mark 25 years of overview and scrutiny, we’ll ask how governance and scrutiny can help shape the next 25 years of local democracy.

Book before end of 31 December 2025 and save 20%
Find out more: www.cfgs.org.uk/home/cfgs-an...

How the government is changing its planned end for the committee system The English Devolution Bill includes provisions to end the committee system in England. But the government is changing who it affects and how

@se13ed.bsky.social explains how government amendments to the English Devolution Bill will affect councils running the committee system - and why it means won't have to immediately move from the governance system

www.cfgs.org.uk/resource/exp...

We’ve just been listening to Lord Heseltine at Holding Mayors to Account deliver the keynote- at @londonassembly.bsky.social

Join CfGS – Senior Governance Consultant We are looking for someone to join the CfGS team to expand and develop the support we provide to the local government sector in England

We're looking for a Senior Governance Consultant to join our team, as we deliver more of our governance and scrutiny services to local government.

If this sounds like you, then follow the link to find a full job description and information on how you can apply....

www.cfgs.org.uk/join-cfgs-se...

From mandatory to meaningful – insights on neighbourhood governance In October our learning event sought to understand what a new neighbourhood governance duty will mean for councils – Mel Stevens reflects

From mandatory to meaningful – insights on neighbourhood governance

www.cfgs.org.uk/mandatory-to...

Making sense of the money — join us on 19 Nov 2025 @ 11:00 GMT for our free online session: “Scrutiny of medium-term council finance”.
Book your place, join the conversation and share how scrutiny has an important role in corporate finance.

Free event – 21st Century Councillors Councillors and council staff keen to influence the role of elected members following local government reorganisation are invited to share their views at a free event.

Are you a councillor thinking about how your role could change following LGR?

Join a free to attend event on 4 November featuring @jesstud.bsky.social, Mel Stevens of @cfgs.bsky.social and @catherinemangan.bsky.social

Find out more and sign up here 👇

www.lgcplus.com/politics/gov...

21st Century Councillors event - CfGS We’re excited to share news of a free 21st Century Councillor event taking place in Andover on 4 November – giving councillors and officers the chance to discuss how elected members can adapt, lead…

21st Century Councillors event - check it out!

www.cfgs.org.uk/21st-century...

Exciting new training opportunity for scrutiny officers!
CfGS has launched the Elevate Scrutiny Officer Leadership Training Programme - an initiative to support scrutiny officers who want to build their leadership skills and strategic confidence. Find out more here: www.cfgs.org.uk/elevate-pilo...

Navigating SEND Scrutiny – Shared Insights for Effective Scrutiny.
This free learning event is for councillors, officers and scrutiny practitioners who want to improve how they approach scrutiny of SEND services.
Find out more and sign up: www.cfgs.org.uk/navigating-s...
#SEND #Scrutiny

Many councils face challenge in where audit ends and scrutiny begins. Our free online learning event, “Audit and Scrutiny – understanding the finance and risk governance divide” on 30th September, 11-12.30pm will help untangle these issues.

Book your place: www.cfgs.org.uk/shades-of-gr...

Navigating SEND Scrutiny – Shared Insights for Effective Scrutiny.
This free learning event is for councillors, officers and scrutiny practitioners who want to improve how they approach scrutiny of SEND services.
Find out more and sign up: www.cfgs.org.uk/navigating-s...
#SEND #Scrutiny

Embedding Effective Scrutiny in Combined Authorities - free online learning event
Date: Wednesday 30 July 2025
Time: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm BST (Online)
Find out more and register here: www.cfgs.org.uk/embedding-ef...
#Scrutiny #CombinedAuthorities #Governance #CfGS #PublicSector #Democracy

Check out our featured case study of transition from committee to cabinet governance model, with a bountiful basket of top tips from #BrightonHoveCouncil. Essential reading for others looking to do this as it's packed with learning. #GovernanceChange #LocalGovScrutiny #ResidentFocused

Quote: Government now envisages mayors being at the centre of the public service reform agenda – leading and driving policymaking, and decision-making, across the whole place, rather than just having a role in convening

Our deputy CEO Ed Hammond says that developing the right form of scrutiny for mayors means thinking about the system of place governance we're creating as a result of the government's plans for English Devolution.
www.cfgs.org.uk/there-are-di...

LGA Conference, LGA Conference, Find us at Stand A46

We'll be at the LGA Conference, starting on Tuesday next week. If you're there make sure to come and find us at stand A46, where at least one of our team of
- Mel Stevens
- Sarah Fenn
- Ed Hammond and
- Andrew Brightwell
will be!

Filling in the holes in local democracy Last week we saw elections take place across England – although for a smaller number of councils than had originally been planned. Suspending polls in areas that...

Mel Stevens, in the MJ: "If the Government is in the business of re-designing our democratic system, then the way to meet the new deficits this system creates might well be in resolving the ones we've been living with for years."

Ed Hammond: Rethinking combined authority scrutiny The convening power of mayors means we need to rethink governance and scrutiny in their areas, write...

Our deputy chief exec @se13ed.bsky.social says it's time to rethink governance and scrutiny for mayoral authorities, given their increasing power - and because of how they'll use that power:

Quote: It remains too easy to think of combined authority governance as simply 'institutional' governance

Ed (@se13ed.bsky.social) in his latest column for the LGC argues that mayors' place shaping goals mean that there are huge opportunities to rethinking how mayoral governance and scrutiny work. www.lgcplus.com/politics/gov...

For many of us who have been working and thinking in the space of democratic innovation this feels like a time of large scale change and turbulence for democracy

Our chair, Catherine Howe says CfGS is busy exploring how our democracy can adapt as part of our wider work supporting councils facing this profoundly important moment for the future of the local state.

Read more of Cathrerine's thoughts and about our work: www.cfgs.org.uk/why-we-shoul...