How might we shift Council Culture so that local governments work with citizens to make places better?
Forward-thinking councils understand that the “service delivery” model of local government is broken. Emerging in its place is the belief that local government’s role is to enable citizens: creating the conditions for people to make their places better, rather than doing it for them.
Pockets of promise have emerged in many places. Early adopters are testing and learning. But time and time again, those pioneering this work hit up against cultural blockers.
The “service delivery” mindset is entrenched. Teams are siloed. Trying to achieve organisational change can be slow and frustrating. All of this can make the gravitational pull of “business as usual” overwhelming.
​
Culture change is hard, but it can be done. Over the last ten years, we’ve worked with dozens of organisations to create and implement citizen-led ways of working.
In our experience, participatory strategies really stick when organisations:
Change the Narrative
identify the enduring stories that need to shift in order to make room for new stories that support new ways of working.
Embed Rituals
co-design, develop and test the day-to-day practices that embed this narrative, reinforcing it at every opportunity and making participatory culture the norm.
Build Totems
develop eye-catching, flagship activities or changes which light the way for your organisation.
Over the past few years, we’ve tested and refined this framework alongside teams from Kirklees, Waltham Forest, South Gloucestershire, Westmorland & Furness and Liverpool City Council.
