LGPN North: Local Government’s Next Phase of AI Transformation Is Already Underway
- ICS AI
- Apr 30
- 4 min read
Updated: May 1
The LGPN North event in Manchester brought together local authority leaders, transformation teams, and digital innovators at a critical moment for the sector.
If LGPN South signalled that local government is ready for AI transformation, LGPN North showed something more important: it’s already happening - but the focus is evolving.
From Technology to Outcomes: A Shift in the Conversation
The plenary sessions were packed, with strong contributions from councils including Stockport and Bradford. What stood out wasn’t just the challenges being discussed - but how they are being approached.
There is a clear shift away from technology-first thinking towards:
Resident-centred service transformation
Public engagement as a design input
Outcomes over outputs
This matters. Previous waves of transformation often prioritised systems, channels, or digital access. What we’re now seeing is a deeper recognition that true transformation starts with people - residents and staff alike.
That aligns closely with what we see across LGR and wider transformation programmes: technology is only valuable when it is grounded in the lived experience of the people it serves.
Inclusion Is the Next Frontier
One of the most important themes emerging from discussions was the generational dimension of digital transformation.
As AI and assistant technologies accelerate, councils are rightly asking:
How do we ensure nobody is excluded?
This is not a side conversation - it is central to success.
We know from across the sector that:
• The phone channel still represents the majority of demand
• Digital confidence varies significantly across communities
• Vulnerable residents are often the most impacted during change
This is why transformation cannot be web-only, or even digital-only. It must be multi-channel, inclusive, and designed for real-world behaviour, not ideal user journeys.
Leadership, Outcomes and Proof at Scale
Councillor Dhindsa from Derby City Council provided a compelling example of what happens when ambition is matched with delivery.
As the Council’s lead for digital and AI transformation, he set out:
The political and leadership commitment behind their approach
A clear focus on outcomes, not experimentation
And the tangible results being delivered through their partnership with ICS.AI
Derby has become one of the most well-evidenced examples of AI in UK local government, demonstrating that transformation is not just possible—it is already delivering at scale.
This kind of leadership is critical. It moves AI from a theoretical discussion into operational reality, grounded in measurable impact.
Place, Identity and Collaboration
Caroline Simpson (Greater Manchester Combined Authority) delivered a compelling perspective on growth, place, and identity - and the role of collaboration across the ten GM councils.
Her focus on prevention and tangible outcomes is particularly important.
In a period where local government faces increasing demand and constrained resources, prevention is not just a policy ambition - it is a necessity.
And it only works when:
Councils operate as a system, not as silos
Data, insight and services are connected, rather than fragmented
Transformation is shared, not duplicated
This reflects a broader trend we are seeing across LGR and combined authority programmes: the future council is not just bigger - it is more integrated, more collaborative, and more outcome-driven.
The Reality on the Ground: Demand Is There
Beyond the sessions, one thing was clear from conversations throughout the event:
The appetite for change is real and immediate.
We had valuable discussions with councils already exploring opportunities. These are not theoretical discussions. Councils are actively looking for ways to:
Manage increasing demand
Navigate organisational change
Deliver better services with constrained capacity
The Missing Piece: Supporting the Workforce
One insight that continues to surface, both at LGPN North and across the sector, is that transformation has historically focused heavily on the resident experience but often overlooked the staff experience.
That gap becomes critical during periods like Local Government Reorganisation.
Previous LGR programmes consistently saw:
Productivity drops
Knowledge silos between predecessor councils
Confusion around policies and processes
Because staff were expected to navigate entirely new environments without the tools to do so effectively.
This is where the conversation is now moving.
AI is not just about improving citizen access, it is increasingly about augmenting the workforce, helping officers navigate complexity, access knowledge, and maintain service quality during change. You can see more on our dedicated LRG website https://smartlgraccelerator.ai/
From Events to Action
Events like LGPN North are valuable not just for sharing ideas, but for identifying where the sector is heading next.
The direction is becoming clear:
Resident-first design is now the baseline
Inclusion is a core requirement, not an afterthought
Collaboration across councils is accelerating
And AI is moving from experimentation to infrastructure
The next phase of transformation will not be defined by isolated pilots or standalone tools.
It will be defined by platforms and approaches that connect residents, staff, and services into a single, coherent system, capable of operating through change, not just after it.
Final Thought
If LGPN South asked whether local government is ready for AI transformation, LGPN North answered a more important question:
How do we do it properly?
The answer has emerged:
Not technology first.
Not channel first.
Not even organisation first.
People first—residents and staff together.
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