Insights
No. 10 in Manchester: A sign of things to come for greater devolution?
With the news, and indeed Downing Street abuzz, with talk of a potential No.10 office in Manchester, at 31ten, we are thinking ahead to what this could mean for devolution. Greater Manchester has been one of devolution’s great success stories. Arguably, a non-London centric No.10 outpost would be better placed in an ‘up-and-coming’ combined authority, rather than the mature combined authority that is Greater Manchester. However, the proposed...
July 6, 2026
As Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) accelerates across England, councils face the challenge of delivering significant structural change while continuing to support economic growth and investment. But how can leaders ensure growth remains a priority when organisational transformation demands so much attention? First-hand insights of LGR Drawing on insights from a recent senior leaders' virtual roundtable...
July 14, 2026
By Siena Caridi-Ross, Consultant, 31ten Consulting When we commission services, we talk about people constantly. We meet with stakeholders, gather opinions, design specifications, and engage suppliers. But if these services exist to support residents, why are residents so rarely part of the process? In this blog, written by 31ten’s Consultant Siena Caridi-Ross, we delve into...
July 13, 2026
With the news, and indeed Downing Street abuzz, with talk of a potential No.10 office in Manchester, at 31ten, we are thinking ahead to what this could mean for devolution. Greater Manchester has been one of devolution’s great success stories. Arguably, a non-London centric No.10 outpost would be better placed in an ‘up-and-coming’ combined authority, rather than the mature combined authority that is Greater Manchester. However, the proposed...
July 6, 2026
At 31ten Consulting, Environment, Social, Governance (ESG) is not a separate initiative, it is embedded into the way we operate as a business. As a certified B Corp, we are committed to balancing commercial performance with positive environmental and community impact, and we recognise the important role businesses such as our own has to play...
June 24, 2026
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) is often discussed in structural terms; which councils merge, what the new boundaries look like, how services will be configured. But behind every reorganisation decision is a group of leaders facing the far more personal challenge of guiding their people through deep uncertainty, while managing their own. In this blog our...
June 10, 2026
And what we can learn from Families First With significant changes to the SEND system planned nationally, local authorities are in the process of finalising and submitting reform plans that outline how they will transform locally. At our recent webinar, Support with the 2026 SEND Reforms, together with our co-hosts, Mime- data specialists for local government, we brought together local government leaders and officers with responsibility...
June 9, 2026
A new policy for fairness The Government’s reintroduction of a 10‑year rent convergence mechanism marks a significant moment for councils with social rent stock. While convergence policy has existed previously, the new framework creates refreshed opportunity and complex decisions for social landlords. The new policy aims to ensure fairness in the rents charged; at present...
May 18, 2026
This month, 31ten has announced a new partnership with WONDER Foundation, a charity dedicated to empowering women and girls. Through access to education, skills development and employment opportunities, the WONDER Foundation focuses on breaking cycles of poverty and overcoming gender inequality. As an official Impact Allies Partner to the Foundation, 31ten will be supporting the...
May 18, 2026
Recent coverage in The Guardian highlights a trend local authorities and colleges have been quietly managing for several years: falling birth rates are now translating into surplus school places. In London, this is particularly acute. Rolls are declining, funding is tightening, and yet the cost of maintaining under-occupied buildings remains stubbornly high. This is not a short-term fluctuation. Over the past 12 months,...
April 23, 2026