Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation: beyond planning

A focused session on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), hosted by Jenny Wigley KC (chair), David Forsdick KC, and James Neill, with special guests Asmat Hussain and Amanda Scally, both of Surrey County Council. Drawing on direct experience advising local authorities through periods of structural reform, speakers offer grounded insight, highlight common obstacles, and share lessons learned from real-world engagement. The emphasis is on strategy and readiness. Built on their practical involvement in supporting councils through change, the session delivers applied guidance, identifies recurring issues, and reflects insights gained from working closely with authorities in transition. Following our 2025 Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation webinar: the planning perspective, which concentrated specifically on planning matters, this event widens the lens. The earlier discussion explored planning in depth. This session looks beyond it. Speakers considered the practical groundwork councils can begin laying now - including governance frameworks, asset planning, risk management, and transitional arrangements - so organisations are prepared for what’s ahead instead of scrambling once reforms take effect. Local government is facing a period of major structural reform. In this webinar, speakers explore what reorganisation involves in practical terms, why it’s happening at this moment, and the effects it will have on governance, service provision, and local communities. Speakers: • Jenny Wigley KC • David Forsdick KC • James Neill • Asmat Hussain, Director of Law and Governance (Monitoring Officer), Surrey County Council • Amanda Scally, Assistant Director (Deputy Monitoring Officer), Surrey County Council