Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 13
13
Deferred
Local Government Outcomes Framework launch represents a positive shift to outcomes-based accountability.
Conclusion
We are encouraged by the recent launch of the Local Government Outcomes Framework and the beginning of a transition towards an outcomes-based system of accountability for local government, and we look forward to further detail, as it emerges during the call for evidence, about how the Ministry will use the Framework to assess local authorities’ performance against the proposed metrics and support them to deliver the Framework’s priority outcomes. (Conclusion, Paragraph 62)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government outlined the independent commission into adult social care and detailed various funding and reform initiatives for social care, but did not provide further detail on how the Local Government Outcomes Framework will be used.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
28. The Government recognises that greater flexibility for local decision-making is critical to the sustainability of local government. The former Deputy Prime Minister announced the LGOF on 3 July 2025, setting the direction of travel towards outcome-based accountability for councils in England, focused on the impact of spending on local communities rather than micro-control of ringfenced grants. 29. Following a period of engagement with the local government sector, the final Framework will be published alongside the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2026–27. We expect that from April 2026, government will actively use the Framework to support delivery and, where necessary, take action in response to poor public service outcomes for local people. 30. A full transition to outcomes-based accountability will require a significant cultural shift across central and local government and our work will continue beyond April 2026. This includes working across government to move further away from using ringfences and other reporting requirements, and working with local government to ensure outcomes-based accountability is implemented in a way that genuinely supports councils to improve outcomes for local people.
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