Local Authority Finances - note for NAVCA members

Briefing note (January 2023) on implications of the 2024-25 funding settlement for local authorities in England, plus a summary of a members' meeting in December 2023 on effective leadership by LIOs in the context of local authority funding crisis.

Section 114 Notices - briefing for members

This briefing explains what a section 114 notice is, what happens when one is issued by a local authority, and implications for local infrastructure organisations and the VCSE sector. It provides guidance for members on what their role should be and what actions to take.

Local Authorities and Local VCS Infrastructure: Encouraging Collaboration

This short briefing offers guidance on partnerships with local authorities, VCS organisations and local infrastructure organisations. The key drivers are building relationships and mutual respect.

Funding and Competition in Local Infrastructure – Interim Findings

Summary of findings of members' experience of local authority commissioing of local infrastructure services, covering the move from grant to contract model, competitive tendering in small lots, prioritising price over quality. Briefing also explores perceived competition when LIOs deliver other services.

National Procurement Strategy for Local Government in England 2022 - Toolkit

A toolkit developed by the LGA to support the delivery of the National Procurement Strategy for Local Government in England, 2022. It sets out local government’s ambitions and priorities for the next four years, focusing on the three core themes; leadership; behaving commercially and; achieving community benefits. The toolkit aims to help councils set objectives and assess progress towards them.

A Quiet Crisis: local government spending on disadvantage in England

A report on the services that English local authorities provide to support people facing disadvantage. Using a composite measure of ‘spending on disadvantage’, it shows how spending fell by 2% in real terms over five years 2011/12 to 2016/17. It shows disparities in funding for children's and adult services, and larger reductions of 13% on housing, 14% on youth justice and substance misuse by 59%.

Tethered Fortunes: the threat to charities from trouble in local government

Many local authorities are faced with making significant budget cuts to cope with reduced income and rising costs. Local government provides 13p in £1 of charity sector income through grants and contracts and for many charities relationships with and funding from councils are critical for their survival. The report explores this in more detail and explores the risks to the VCSE sector from instability in local government finances.

Charity Density and Social Need: A Longitudinal Perspective

This study links large-scale administrative data on charities registered in England and Wales with local authority-level measures of material deprivation for 5 U.K. census years (1971–2011). In general, charity density is highest in the least deprived local authorities but this varies across different types of organizations and census years.

VCFSE Response to Birmingham City Council s.114 notice

A PowerPoint presentation outlining NAVCA member Birmingham VSC response to the issuing of a section 114 notice by Birmingham City Council. Slides outline potential impact, including on VCFSE, the approach to working with the council in these circumstances and direct asks to the council on behalf of the sector.

Kent County Council Civil Society Strategy for Kent 2021-2024

The strategy outlines how Kent County Council will support civil society across communities as it recognises its role within Kent. It includes sections on providing infrastructure support for the VCSE and providing fair funding.

Full Cost Recovery in VCSE Contracts

Research into the experiences of Kent County Council’s VCSE partners in public service commissioning by NPC. The research found that council contracts did not cover the full cost of work carried out by VCSE organisations, who were subsidising these contracts from other sources. The report explores the risks to organisations working on below FCR and makes recommendations for improvements in contracting by the council.

The VS6 Partnership: supporting the voice of the VCFSE sector in Liverpool City Region

VS6 is a partnership of 10 infrastructure organisations working with and representing the 8600 VCFSE organisation in the Liverpool City Region. The report outlines how VS6 works with the VCFSE sector using participatory models of engagement and representation.

Capacity to Change: the state of London's voluntary sector infrastructure organisations in the 2020s

This report explores issues facing local infrastructure organisations [LIOs] in London. Findings show that LIOs are an essential catalyst for change, that had a big impact during the pandemic. However demand is increasing, equity led organisations face unique challenges and funding is precarious. Notes that a 'funder plus' model is not the answer.

Grants for Good: Exploring local authority grant-making to the VCSE sector

A report from the Directory of Social Change exploring grant making by local authorities to the VCSE sector between 2018/19 and 2020/21. Around £600M is granted by UK councils to the VCSE sector each year, with large variations in amounts between councils. The average grant is £12K and 75-80% are awarded through open or competitive processes. Includes recommendations for improved practices by local authorities.

Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation – At a Glance

This policy briefing for NAVCA members covers the key headlines from recent devolution announcements, the current timeline for devolution changes, and how NAVCA is supporting you.

English Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation – Update for NAVCA Members

Since the publication of the Devolution White Paper in December 2024, there have been rapid developments in both proposals to create new strategic authorities and the reorganisation of the remaining 21 two tier council areas. This briefing covers the first phase of the priority devolution programme and the restructuring of districts and counties. It provides a short summary of recent announcements and links to further information.

English Devolution White Paper - NAVCA briefing - December 2024

This document is a short summary of the headline points in an extensive and complex White Paper. This is a priority issue for local infrastructure organisations and so we will continue to resource and support you as devolution progresses.

Partnership and mergers in LIOs - research by NAVCA

The English Devolution White Paper and the related changes to local authorities and move to strategic authorities will impact on many, perhaps all, NAVCA members. LIOs will need to navigate a changing landscape in which decision making powers will be distributed in new ways and services are delivered on new footprints. This paper explores how NAVCA some members have already developed partnerships and collaborations to increase their impact and respond to a changing external environment.

Devolution Priority Areas – Notes of NAVCA and ACRE Members’ Meeting 19 March 2025 and Guidance on Consultation Responses

The documents notes member discussion on the implications of proposed government devolution and local government reorganisation in England, particularly for the VCS and rural communities. Participants shared experiences and concerns, highlighting the importance of early engagement, partnerships, and ensuring a range of voices including rural are heard in the process. The document contains guidance on how to respond to the current MHCLG consultations on the six devolution priority areas.

Cumbria's experience of local government reorganisation

Set of PowerPoint slides explaining the response of Cumbria CVS to local government reorganisation in Cumbria. It covers the different stages, timeline and key learning from the experience.

Previous Experience of Local Government Reorganisation in Two Tier Council Areas

Briefing document on previous experience of LIOs navigating the change from district and county councils to unitary authorities. The document offers guidance on the process, what to expect and issues to look out for.

Engaging with a Reform UK Local Authority

Areas with Reform Led Councils - Briefing #1 July 2025: an overview of the initial experience members have had with Reform UK led councils, including pointers on building relationships, supporting the VCSE sector and immediate actions to take.

English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill – Summary

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill sets out the legislation needed to create Strategic Authorities in England and put in place local government reorganisation. In this document, we summarise the Bill for NAVCA members.

Local government reorganisation - July 2025 update

On 24 July, Jim McMahon, Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, wrote to councils in the 21 areas subject to local government reorganisation. We have summarised the update for members in this short policy briefing.

Local Government Finance Settlement Part 1 - November 2025

Published on 20 November 2025, MHCLG has released the outcome of the Fair Funding Review 2.0 and announced the first part of a new multi-year Settlement for local government to 31 March 2029.

Update Local Government Reorganisation - November 2025

Consultations on proposals for local government reorganisation in East Sussex, Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and West Sussex were released on 19 November. Local infrastructure is listed as a statutory consultee in all the consultations. This briefing explores how to respond to the consultation - the closing date is 11 January 2026.