Policy Process 2026: Local government

Introduction

This year, the policy consultation will focus on expanding our policy offering for co-operative councils and councillors. The Co-operative Party has recent reached historic highs and currently boasts over 1,400 councillors across the UK, which is approximately a quarter of elected Labour councillors. This provides the opportunity to put co-operative values, principles and policies into action in communities across the country. Labour and Co-operative councillors have helped to pioneer community energy development, support the creation of new co-operatives, take action against modern slavery and undertaken many more actions to benefit their residents. This consultation will seek to learn from councillors and members on how we can take this local government work forward – so that co-operation can benefit every community. Whether you’re a sitting councillor, a council candidate or a party member we want to hear from you.

Local authorities in the devolved nations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland having have partially different powers and structure, so please do tailor your submission to your national setting. There are specific questions for each of the devolved nations below.

The consultation will also review our policies for Metro Mayors and combined authorities. The Co-operative Party currently has 7 Metro Mayors – representing many of the biggest urban areas in England – including Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and the West Midlands. Following the changes introduced by the English Devolution & Community Empowerment Bill, Metro Mayors will receive additional powers over skills and training, transport, housing and more. This means Metro Mayors will be more important than ever to delivering co-operative policies and solutions across the nation. We want to hear from you on how empowered Metro Mayors and Combined Authorities can make a real difference to building co-operation.

Members are invited to share their views and ideas through our consultation, running until Friday 31st July.

Step 1 of 7

Remember: you do not need to respond to every question if you do not wish to do so. Just respond to the questions that are of interest to you.
Co-operative Development
What resources or support would help you to encourage co-operative growth in your local council area?
How can councils ensure local authority procurement supports local co-operatives and mutuals?
What training would help councillors and council officers more effectively support local co-operative development?
How can councils be encouraged to make co-operative growth a core part of local economic development? What would encourage councils to work more closely with partners (i.e. universities, colleges, etc.) on this agenda?
Community ownership
How can councils make the most of the Pride in Place Programme funding?
How can we ensure the Pride in Place funding helps to crowd in additional investment into community owned assets?
How can we ensure that lessons from and success of Pride in Place funded projects can be replicated to other areas not in receipt of the £20m?
What changes to council policies can enable them to more effectively support the development of community-owned assets?
How can we ensure councils prioritise community ownership for local assets and institutions at risk of closure? I.e. libraries, leisure centres, etc.
Community Energy
How can councillors serve as convenors for local residents interested in community energy?
How can councils make the most of the Local Power Plan to develop new community energy capacity?
What can councils do to act as anchors for local community energy projects? i.e. providing public land for renewable energy installations, etc.
What do councils need from GB Energy in order to deliver a new generation of community energy owners through the Local Power Plan?
What type of support or training would be most effective for helping councils to support community energy development?
How can councils ensure their procurement and energy purchasing helps to support the development of community energy projects?
Mutual Financial Services
What can councils do to support local credit unions and mutual financial services?
What can councils do to encourage the growth of local credit union and building society membership in their local area?
How can credit unions and building societies play a role in delivering economic growth?
How can councils work with mutual financial providers to improve financial inclusion and personal financial security for residents?
Co-op & Community Housing
How can planning be reformed to support community-led housing development?
How can councils make it easier to develop housing co-ops and community led housing? What policies would make it easier to develop new housing?
Embedding Co-operative Values
How can councils establish a more co-operative way of working with local communities and partner organisations?
How can councils develop a more co-operative way of working with other local authorities and other public sector institutions (i.e. NHS Trusts, universities, etc.)?
Procurement & tax
How can councillors encourage council officers to increase procurement from co-operative providers?
What more can councils do to encourage their local business community and third sector organisations to pay and sign-up to fair tax status?
Food Justice
What is needed to support councils to reduce local food insecurity?
How can co-operatives help to reduce local food poverty?
Community Transport
What would help ensure the sustainability of local community transport services?
Education
How can councils become supporters and enablers to co-operative schools?
How can councils support greater co-operation between schools to deliver improved outcomes?
How can councils encourage the development of co-operative or community-owned youth services?
Social Care & Childcare
How can public procurement be reformed to enable councils and councillors to support co-operative social care provision?
What is needed to facilitate local council development of co-operative childcare and children’s services?
Safer & Stronger High Streets
What local activity could councillors undertake to help reduce instances of retail crime?
How can community-owned initiatives become a more integral part of council-led regeneration initiatives?
Arts, Culture & Sports
What can councils do to support co-operative and community-led organisations in the arts?
How can councils safeguard music and arts venues through community ownership?
How can councils promote community-owned sports clubs and sporting facilities?

You do not need to respond to every question if you do not wish to do so: just respond to the questions that are of interest to you.
Co-operative Development
What resources or support would help you to encourage co-operative growth in your local council area?
How can councils ensure local authority procurement supports local co-operatives and mutuals?
What training would help councillors and council officers more effectively support local co-operative development?
How can councils be encouraged to make co-operative growth a core part of local economic development? What would encourage councils to work more closely with partners (i.e. universities, colleges, etc.) on this agenda?
How can we ensure that Community Wealth Building makes a real difference in communities across Scotland?
Community ownership
What can councils do to promote more community ownership across Scotland?
How can we ensure community ownership funding programmes help to crowd in additional investment into community owned assets?
How can we ensure that lessons from and success of Pride in Place funded projects can be replicated to other areas of Scotland not in receipt of the £20m?
What changes to council policies can enable them to more effectively support the development of community-owned assets?
How can we ensure councils prioritise community ownership for local assets and institutions at risk of closure? I.e. libraries, leisure centres, etc.
Community energy
How can councillors serve as coordinators for local residents interested in community energy?
How can councils make the most of the Local Power Plan & the Scottish Government’s CARES programme to develop new community energy capacity?
What can councils do to act as anchors for local community energy projects? i.e. providing public land for renewable energy installations, etc.
What do Scottish councils need from GB Energy in order to deliver a new generation of community energy owners through the Local Power Plan?
What type of support or training would be most effective for helping councils to support community energy development?
How can Scottish councils ensure their procurement and energy purchasing helps to support the development of community energy projects?
Mutual Financial Services
What can councils do to support local credit unions and mutual financial services across Scotland?
What can councils do to encourage the growth of local credit union and building society membership in their local area?
How can credit unions and building societies play a role in delivering economic growth across Scotland?
How can councils work with mutual financial providers to improve financial inclusion and personal financial security for residents?
Co-op & Community Housing
How can planning be reformed to support community-led housing development?
How can councils make it easier to develop housing co-ops and community led housing? What policies would make it easier to develop new housing?
How could Scottish councils encourage the creation of co-operative housing factors in residential buildings?
Embedding Co-operative Values
How can councils establish a more co-operative way of working with local communities and partner organisations throughout Scotland?
How can councils develop a more co-operative way of working with other local authorities and other public sector institutions (i.e. NHS Trusts, universities, etc.)?
Procurement & Tax
How can councillors encourage an increase in procurement from co-operative providers?
What more can councils do to encourage their local business community and third sector organisations to pay and sign-up to fair tax status?
Food Justice
What is needed to support councils to reduce local food insecurity?
How can co-operatives help to reduce local food poverty in Scotland?
Community Transport
What would help ensure the sustainability of local community transport services in urban, rural and remote areas of Scotland?
Education
How can councils become supporters and enablers to co-operative values in Scottish schools?
How can councils support greater co-operation between schools to deliver improved outcomes in the Scottish education sector?
How can councils encourage the development of co-operative or community-owned youth services?
Social Care & Childcare
How can public procurement be reformed to enable councils and councillors to support co-operative social care provision?
What is needed to facilitate local council development of co-operative childcare and children’s services?
Safer & Stronger High Streets
What local activity could councillors undertake to help reduce instances of retail crime?
How can community-owned initiatives become a more integral part of council-led regeneration initiatives?
Arts, Culture & Sports
What can Scottish councils do to support co-operative and community-led organisations in the arts?
How can councils safeguard music and arts venues through community-ownership throughout Scotland?
How can councils promote community owned sports clubs and sporting facilities?

You do not need to respond to every question if you do not wish to do so: just respond to the questions that are of interest to you.
Co-operative development
What resources or support would help you to encourage co-operative growth in your local council area?
How can councils ensure local authority procurement supports local co-operatives and mutuals?
How can the Welsh Government support co-operative media development – particularly for publications under threat of closure?
What training would help councillors and council officers more effectively support local co-operative development?
How can councils be encouraged to make co-operative growth a core part of local economic development? What would encourage councils to work more closely with partners (i.e. Cwmpas, universities, colleges, etc.) on this agenda?
How can we ensure that Community Wealth Building makes a real difference in communities across Wales?
Community ownership
How can recipient Welsh councils make the most of the Pride in Place Programme funding?
How can we ensure the Pride in Place funding helps to crowd in additional investment into community owned assets?
How can we ensure that lessons from and success of Pride in Place funded projects can be replicated to other areas of Wales not in receipt of the £20m?
What changes to council policies can enable them to more effectively support the development of community-owned assets?
How can we ensure councils prioritise community ownership for local assets and institutions at risk of closure? I.e. libraries, leisure centres, etc.
Community energy
How can councillors serve as convenors for local residents interested in community energy?
How can councils make the most of the Local Power Plan & Ynni Cymru to develop new community energy capacity?
What can Welsh councils do to act as anchors for local community energy projects? i.e. providing public land for renewable energy installations, etc.
What can Welsh councils do to act as anchors for local community energy projects? i.e. providing public land for renewable energy installations, etc.
What do councils need from GB Energy in order to deliver a new generation of community energy owners through the Local Power Plan?
What type of support or training would be most effective for helping councils to support community energy development?
How can councils ensure their procurement and energy purchasing helps to support the development of community energy projects?
Mutual financial services
What can councils do to support local credit unions and mutual financial services across Wales?
What can councils do to encourage the growth of local credit union and building society membership in their local area?
How can credit unions and building societies play a role in delivering economic growth in Wales?
How can councils work with mutual financial providers to improve financial inclusion and personal financial security for residents?
Co-op & Community Housing
How can planning be reformed to support community-led housing development?
How can Welsh councils make it easier to develop housing co-ops and community led housing? What policies would make it easier to develop new housing?
Embedding Co-operative Values
How can councils establish a more co-operative way of working with local communities and partner organisations?
How can councils develop a more co-operative way of working with other local authorities and other public sector institutions (i.e. NHS Trusts, universities, etc.)?
Procurement & Tax
How can councillors encourage an increase in procurement from co-operative providers?
What more can councils do to encourage their local business community and third sector organisations to pay and sign-up to fair tax status?
Food Justice
What is needed to support councils to reduce local food insecurity?
How can co-operatives help to reduce local food poverty in Wales?
Community Transport
What would help ensure the sustainability of local community transport services in urban, rural and remote areas of Wales?
Education
How can councils become supporters and enablers of co-operative values in schools?
How can councils support greater co-operation between schools to deliver improved outcomes in the Welsh education system?
How can councils encourage the development of co-operative or community-owned youth services?
Education
How can public procurement be reformed to enable councils and councillors to support co-operative social care provision?
What is needed to facilitate local council development of co-operative childcare and children’s services?
Safer & Stronger High Streets
What local activity could councillors undertake to help reduce instances of retail crime?
How can community-owned initiatives become a more integral part of council-led regeneration initiatives?
Arts, Culture & Sports
What can Welsh councils do to support co-operative and community-led organisations in the arts?
How can councils safeguard music and arts venues through community ownership across Wales?
How can councils promote community owned sports clubs and sporting facilities?

You do not need to respond to every question if you do not wish to do so: just respond to the questions that are of interest to you.
Co-operative Development
What resources or support would help you to encourage co-operative growth in your local council area?
How can councils ensure local authority procurement supports local co-operatives and mutuals?
What training would help councillors and council officers more effectively support local co-operative development?
How can councils be encouraged to make co-operative growth a core part of local economic development? What would encourage councils to work more closely with partners (i.e. universities, colleges, etc.) on this agenda?
Co-operative Development
What can councils do to promote more community ownership across Northern Ireland?
How can Northern Irish councils help expand community ownership of local amenities and public spaces?
What changes to council policies can enable them to more effectively support the development of community-owned assets?
How can we ensure councils prioritise community ownership for local assets and institutions at risk of closure? I.e. libraries, leisure centres, etc.
Community energy
How can councillors serve as convenors for local residents interested in community energy?
How can councils make the most of the Local Power Plan and other public funding programmes to develop new community energy capacity?
What can councils do to act as anchors for local community energy projects? i.e. providing public land for renewable energy installations, etc.
What do councils need from GB Energy in order to deliver a new generation of community energy owners in Northern Ireland through the Local Power Plan?
What type of support or training would be most effective for helping councils to support community energy development?
How can councils ensure their procurement and energy purchasing helps to support the development of community energy projects?
Mutual Financial Services
What can councils do to support local credit unions and mutual financial services across Northern Ireland?
What can councils do to encourage the growth of local credit union and building society membership in their local area?
How can credit unions and building societies play a role in delivering economic growth in Northern Ireland?
How can councils work with mutual financial providers to improve financial inclusion and personal financial security for residents?
Co-op & Community Housing
How can planning be reformed to support community-led housing development throughout Northern Ireland?
How can councils make it easier to develop housing co-ops and community led housing? What policies would make it easier to develop new housing in Northern Ireland?
Embedding Co-operative Values
How can councils establish a more co-operative way of working with local communities and partner organisations?
How can councils develop a more co-operative way of working with other local authorities and other public sector institutions (i.e. NHS Trusts, universities, etc.)?
How can Northern Irish councils help to promote community cohesion through co-operative values and principles?
Procurement & Tax
How can councillors encourage an increase in procurement from co-operative providers?
What more can councils do to encourage their local business community and third sector organisations to pay and sign-up to fair tax status?
Food Justice
What is needed to support councils to reduce local food insecurity?
How can co-operatives help to reduce local food poverty in Northern Ireland?
Community Transport
What would help ensure the sustainability of local community transport services in urban, rural and remote Northern Ireland?
Childcare & Youth Services
What is needed to facilitate local council development of co-operative childcare and children’s services?
How can councils encourage the development of co-operative or community-owned youth services in Northern Ireland?
Safer & Stronger High Streets
What local activity could councillors undertake to help reduce instances of retail crime?
How can community-owned initiatives become a more integral part of council-led regeneration initiatives?
Arts, Culture & Sports
What can Northern Irish councils do to support co-operative and community-led organisations in the arts?
How can councils safeguard music and arts venues through community-ownership across Northern Ireland?
How can councils promote community owned sports clubs and sporting facilities?

Promoted by Joe Fortune on behalf of the Co-operative Party, both at Unit 13, 83 Crampton Street, London, SE17 3BQ, United Kingdom. Co-operative Party Limited is a registered Society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014. Registered no. 30027R.

Policy Process 2026: Local Government

Introduction

Step 1 of 7

Co-operative Development

Community ownership

Community Energy

Mutual Financial Services

Co-op & Community Housing

Embedding Co-operative Values

Procurement & tax

Food Justice

Community Transport

Education

Social Care & Childcare

Safer & Stronger High Streets

Arts, Culture & Sports

Metro Mayors

Co-operative Development

Community ownership

Community energy

Mutual Financial Services

Co-op & Community Housing

Embedding Co-operative Values

Procurement & Tax

Food Justice

Community Transport

Education

Social Care & Childcare

Safer & Stronger High Streets

Arts, Culture & Sports

Co-operative development

Community ownership

Community energy

Mutual financial services

Co-op & Community Housing

Embedding Co-operative Values

Procurement & Tax

Food Justice

Community Transport

Education

Education

Safer & Stronger High Streets

Arts, Culture & Sports

Co-operative Development

Co-operative Development

Community energy

Mutual Financial Services

Co-op & Community Housing

Embedding Co-operative Values

Procurement & Tax

Food Justice

Community Transport

Childcare & Youth Services

Safer & Stronger High Streets

Arts, Culture & Sports