Minister promises shift away from micromanagement by central government with renamed Local Outcomes Framework

A policy paper on the first edition of the framework - previously dubbed the Local Government Outcomes Framework - said it would enable “outcomes-based performance measurement against key national priorities delivered at the local level and driven by councils as local leaders of place”.

It added that the framework is drawn from the Labour Government’s ‘Missions’ and ‘Plan for Change’ and would strengthen the way government supports and holds councils to account for improving outcomes for their areas.

“The name change to Local Outcomes Framework acknowledges that local authorities work together with many local partners to deliver outcomes in a place,” it said.

The framework – described as a “central focussing tool amongst a multitude of existing outcomes frameworks and assurance regimes” – sets out 16 priority outcomes that represent government’s priorities for local delivery:

1. Housing supply: “Build the homes the country needs so that everyone has access to a home they can afford.”
2. Housing quality and safety: “Everyone has access to a decent, safe, and secure home.”
3. Homelessness and rough sleeping: “Prevent and reduce homelessness and rough sleeping.”
4. Multiple disadvantage: “Improve the lives of adults experiencing multiple disadvantages.”
5. Best start in life: “Improve early child development and health through improved family support and high-quality early education to give children in every part of the country the best start in life.”
6. Every child achieving and thriving: “Support all children and young people to achieve and thrive in school, at home and in their communities.”
7. Keeping children safe (children’s social care): “Keep children safe in secure and loving homes and help more families to thrive together.”
8. Health and wellbeing: “People live healthier lives for longer and health inequalities are reduced.”
9. Adult social care – quality: “People who draw on care and support, and their carers, experience high quality adult social care provided by a skilled workforce.”
10. Adult social care – independence, choice and control: “People who draw on care and support are supported to promote their independence, where possible, and have choice and control over their support.”
11. Adult social care – neighbourhood health / integration: “People who draw on care and support experience joined-up health and social care services at a neighbourhood level.”
12. Neighbourhoods: “People feel safe and included in their local community and are satisfied with their local area as a place to live.”
13. Environment, circular economy and climate change: “Support a healthier, more resilient natural and built environment, including responding to the risks and impacts of climate change to the benefit of communities.”
14. Transport and local infrastructure: “Communities are better connected with healthier, safer, and greener transport that meets the needs of all users and drives growth.”
15. Economic prosperity and regeneration (contextual): “Foster local economic growth and prosperity.”
16. Child poverty (contextual): “Reduce and alleviate child poverty to improve children’s lives and life chances.”

The policy paper goes on to set out various metrics for measuring progress against these priority outcomes, although some remain under development.

This first version of the framework will cover the Spending Review period to 2028-29 “to provide certainty for local government and local partners to enable budget and business planning”.

Writing in the foreword of the policy paper, Alison McGovern said: “Each of our places, towns and cities face unique challenges arising from their own economic and social history. When local government is successful, people experience public services that are tailored to them, and every place is given the best chance of economic growth. It is in all our interests to see it succeed.  

“The Local Outcomes Framework sets out the outcomes we want to see happen. For our part, we are giving greater funding security through a return to multi-year finance settlements and funding reform, fixing the broken audit and early warning system, and raising standards. We are equipping local government with the tools to achieve the best possible outcomes.”

McGovern wrote: “Alongside funding consolidation and a reduction in individual grant conditions, the Local Outcomes Framework shifts the focus of central government away from micromanagement of individual activities and towards a focus on the outcomes we all care about.

“Focussing on shared outcomes brings central and local government together and means opportunities to promote local growth and improve the lives of local people are not lost in a mire of bureaucratic oversight as local leaders are free to take the best path forward for their place.”

The minister added that by publishing outcomes data in one place the Local Outcomes Framework would bring greater transparency for residents and would mean central and local government are measuring progress “through the same lens”.

McGovern said: “Where outcomes are poor, we will act, but action will begin by talking to local leaders to understand how we can support self-improvement and reduce barriers to delivery.  

“We need stronger local councils equipped to enable economic growth, improve public services and empower communities. With central government and local government working closely together, including through this framework, we can achieve our collective aims.”

Responding to the announcement, Cllr Jane Scullion, Chair of the LGA Improvement Committee said: "We support the Government’s recognition, through the renamed Local Outcomes Framework, that outcomes are improved through councils working in partnership across public services.

"As leaders of place, councils convene these partnerships and will work with government to remove barriers. We urge government to align outcomes across other public service frameworks.

"We support the shift from central micromanagement to local outcomes, while stressing councils’ primary accountability is local and priorities may differ from national ones.”

She added: "Delivery depends on funding: sustained pressures, after years of savings, constrain capacity. Any Best Value assessment must recognise local democratic choices in the context of scarce resources.

“We support transparency through LG Inform, which shares council performance data with the public. In the coming days, we will update the LG Inform Outcomes Framework report with final metrics to support councils to monitor and report against the Framework if they choose.”