UK Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) 
The Local Digital Newsletter, 25 June 2025
26 June 2025
Meet the team supporting councils through their Cyber Assessment Framework journey
25 June 2025
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Get to know the team members supporting councils through their CAF journey and find out how we've helped councils build their resilience.
The Local Digital Newsletter, 10 June 2025
10 June 2025
Supporting local government to reduce cyber risk through targeted interventions
10 June 2025
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The cyber threat to local government is real, increasing, and evolving. Four years into the Cyber Support programme, we’re sharing insights from our cyber work.
Video: What is the Cyber Assessment Framework for local government?
9 June 2025
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In this short video, we explain what the CAF for local government is, the stages involved, and where to get started.
Local Digital CAF Newsletter, 14 May 2025
2 June 2025
The Local Digital Newsletter, 22 May 2025
22 May 2025
The case for common digital solutions across local government
22 May 2025
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We explore why shared digital approaches are so important, barriers to standardisation, and how councils are making them work.
Visit our new Defend as One webpage
15 May 2025
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We have launched a new webpage highlighting MHCLG's Defend as One programme and the work we're undertaking.
The Local Digital Newsletter, 8 May 2025
8 May 2025
The Local Digital Newsletter, 24 April 2025
24 April 2025
Exploring approaches for using GOV.UK One Login in local government
23 April 2025
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We are launching a discovery phase to explore how One Login could benefit local government.
Local Digital’s next steps with Tom Smith, Director for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Analytics
11 April 2025
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Tom Smith highlights the push for AI adoption, digital transformation and cyber resilience in councils.
The Local Digital Newsletter, 27 March 2025
27 March 2025
Introducing the new Open Referral UK website and adoption resources
27 March 2025
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We’re excited to introduce the newly launched Open Referral UK (ORUK) website.
The Local Digital Newsletter, 13 March 2025
13 March 2025
Local Digital CAF Newsletter, 27 February 2025
27 February 2025
The Local Digital Newsletter, 26 February 2025
26 February 2025
Strengthening cyber resilience in local government through WARPs
26 February 2025
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The Warning, Advice and Reporting Point (WARP) meetings bring together information security, assurance, and governance practitioners from local government.
The Local Digital Newsletter, 12 February 2025
12 February 2025
The Local Digital Newsletter, 29 January 2025
29 January 2025
Norfolk County Council’s experience with the CAF for local government
29 January 2025
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In this video case study, Norfolk County Council share their experience of the CAF for local government.
Building a social housing data community
23 January 2025
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Our social housing data community will tackle some of the biggest data challenges in the sector.
The Local Digital Newsletter, 14 January 2025
14 January 2025
Open Referral UK: the journey so far
13 January 2025
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The adoption of the ORUK data standard continues to increase. Here’s a look at the progress so far and what’s to come.
The Local Digital Newsletter, 17 December 2024
17 December 2024
Hart District Council’s experience with the CAF for local government
13 December 2024
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Hart District Council share their experience of participating in the first Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) for local government pilot.
The Local Digital Newsletter, 3 December 2024
3 December 2024
Local Digital CAF Newsletter, 2 December 2024
2 December 2024
Maldon District Council’s experience with the CAF for local government
2 December 2024
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Maldon District Council share their experience of undertaking the Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) for local government.
Local Digital Newsletter, 14 November 2024
14 November 2024
Council Spotlight: How West Lindsey District Council digitised their financial services
6 November 2024
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In this guest blog, West Lindsey District Council share how they used transformational programs and funding to digitise their financial services.
Local Digital Newsletter, 1 November 2024
1 November 2024
New resources to help councils with digital transformation
31 October 2024
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We are pleased to introduce digital resources to help councils apply the Local Digital Declaration principles and drive forward digital transformation.
Local Digital Newsletter, 16 October 2024
16 October 2024
Local Digital Newsletter, 2 October 2024
2 October 2024
Transforming the housing sector through improved data
30 September 2024
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Find out about our work to explore solutions to the data challenges faced by the social housing sector.
Introducing our new Open Referral UK steering group
20 September 2024
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We’ve brought together a group of changemakers to drive the implementation of the Open Referral UK (ORUK) data standard across local government.
Local Digital Newsletter, 4 September 2024
4 September 2024
Local Digital Newsletter, 22 August
22 August 2024
Council Spotlight: Dorset’s journey to becoming a digital council
21 August 2024
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In this guest blog post, Dorset Council shares their transformation journey over the past couple of years to become a digital council.
Local Digital Newsletter, 9 August
9 August 2024
Local Digital Newsletter, 5 June
5 June 2024
Local Digital Newsletter, 22 May
22 May 2024
Local Digital Newsletter, 10 May
10 May 2024
Access our learning resources for digital teams
1 May 2024
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We have launched a set of learning resources to introduce new approaches to designing products and services.
Local Digital Newsletter, 16 April
16 April 2024
Scaling data standards to support local government
10 April 2024
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Local Digital have made additional investments in data standards to ensure they scale and reach their full potential, but we want to go further.
Future Councils Pilot insights
2 April 2024
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The pilot enabled us to gain valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities for digital transformation in local government.
Sprint Notes #78
18 March 2024
Developing a service to assess and understand cyber resilience in local government
14 March 2024
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In this blog post, we’ll provide an update on our work to develop the CAF and share how your council can start getting ready.
Local Digital Newsletter, 7 March
7 March 2024
Driving adoption of Open Referral UK
5 March 2024
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We're pleased to announce an ambitious 3 year plan for the Open Referral UK (ORUK) data standard that could potentially deliver millions of pounds in annual savings.
Local Digital Newsletter, 20 February
20 February 2024
Local Digital update: Adapting our approach to support the sector
19 February 2024
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We reflect on our progress and share our plans to adapt our approach to take on a more strategic role as a ‘steward’.
Sprint Notes #77
14 February 2024
Local Digital Newsletter, 31 January
31 January 2024
Local Digital Newsletter, 17 January
17 January 2024
Sprint Notes #76
16 January 2024
Local Digital Newsletter, 13 December
13 December 2023
Sprint Notes #75
12 December 2023
Meet the Team: Eloise Siani Djiakoua
5 December 2023
Local Digital Newsletter, 29 November
29 November 2023
Local Digital Newsletter, 14 November
15 November 2023
Meet the team: Connor Couldrey, Delivery Manager
3 November 2023
Local Digital Newsletter, 31 October
1 November 2023
Sprint Notes #74
25 October 2023
Local Digital Newsletter, 17 October
17 October 2023
Meet the Team: Theo French, Economist
5 October 2023
Local Digital Newsletter, 3 October
3 October 2023
Sprint Notes #72
2 October 2023
Local Digital evaluation study: A snapshot of our initial findings
2 October 2023
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Read some of the interesting findings from our independent evaluation of the Local Digital programme to understand the impact and value-for-money of the support we offer to local government.
Local Digital Newsletter, 19 September
19 September 2023
Sprint Notes #71
13 September 2023
Local Digital Newsletter, 7 September
7 September 2023
Future Councils: We’re gathering feedback from the sector
7 September 2023
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In this blog post, we want to outline the challenges we’ve identified with the cohort and invite you to share your feedback and experiences.
Sprint Notes #70
31 August 2023
Local Digital Newsletter, 22 August
22 August 2023
Sprint Notes #69
16 August 2023
Future Councils update #3
9 August 2023
Council Spotlight: Stockport’s Family Context tool
2 August 2023
Sprint Notes #68
2 August 2023
Sprint Notes #67
27 July 2023
Council Spotlight: Rushmoor’s digital election service
13 July 2023
Sprint Notes #66
6 July 2023
Reviewing the Local Digital Declaration 5 years on: Update on the discovery project
3 July 2023
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This month marks a key milestone for the Local Digital Declaration as it reaches its fifth anniversary, and we’ll be celebrating throughout July.
Future Councils update #2
30 June 2023
Sprint Notes #65
21 June 2023
Sprint Notes #64
7 June 2023
Meet the Team: Tom Lowndes, Collaboration & Engagement Manager
30 May 2023
Future Councils update #1
25 May 2023
Sprint Notes #63
23 May 2023
Supporting the development of transformative leaders within local government
22 March 2023
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Following the success of last year’s Executive Education Programme in Digital Transformation for UK Local Government, we decided to run the programme again.
Transforming digital services for councils through our Round 6 projects
7 March 2023
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We’re pleased to announce the 17 council-led digital projects that will be awarded funding through Round 6 of the Local Digital Fund.
Future Councils: Meet our 8 pilot councils
7 March 2023
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We are delighted to announce the councils that will be taking part in the pilot of Future Councils.
Council Spotlight: Birmingham’s Guardian App
15 February 2023
Meet the Local Digital team: Phil James, Community Engagement Manager
13 February 2023
Meet the Local Digital team: Gemma Matthews, Senior Product Manager
1 February 2023
How our Round 5 projects are contributing to local government transformation
24 January 2023
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Before our selected projects begin their work on Round 6 of the Local Digital Fund, we’re taking a look back at projects from our previous round.
Meet the Local Digital team: Leon Ackie, Collaboration Manager
10 January 2023
Local Digital: 2022 in review
20 December 2022
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In this blog post, we want to celebrate some of our highlights from 2022 and provide an insight of what's to come in 2023.
Insights from the Cyber Assessment Framework for Local Government pilot
14 December 2022
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As our first phase of the CAF for Local Government comes to an end, we’re keen to share some insights and feedback before we move forward.
Meet the Local Digital team: Paul Tait, Delivery Manager
1 December 2022
Future Councils: Delivering pathways for councils to become modern and resilient organisations
25 October 2022
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We’re delighted to announce that applications are now open to join the pilot of Future Councils.
Meet the Local Digital team: Rachel Downs, Senior Product Manager
16 September 2022
Piloting a Cyber Assessment Framework for Local Government
31 August 2022
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We want to set a clear standard and expectation around cyber resilience for local authorities in England, based on the established NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF).
Celebrating four years of the Local Digital Declaration
8 August 2022
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In this blog post, we want to celebrate our highlights from the fourth anniversary of the Declaration and share stories that we’ve heard from the community
What we learned from the Local Digital Roadshow 2022
8 August 2022
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This year has seen the Local Digital team travelling around the country for the first time in two years as part of the Local Digital Roadshow series.
Council Spotlight: How the Task Smart App is helping councils to tackle more than 160 common tasks
28 June 2022
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Tom Lowndes (Local Digital Collaboration Manager) shares an update on the progress of the Task Smart App funded project, led by Colchester Borough Council. This beta project is developing a platform that will enable tasks and requests logged online by customers to route directly to council officers working in the field.
Building confidence and expertise in local government for successful digital transformation
21 April 2022
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In March this year, we teamed up with the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Institute to jointly deliver a virtual programme for local government at no cost.
Exciting next steps for Local Digital and Cyber
13 April 2022
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The Local Digital and Cyber teams are going to be making some exciting changes over the next few months, backed by multi-year funding to the tune of £85 million.
Reflections on my time as the Head of Local Digital
13 April 2022
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In this blog post, I want to reflect back on the lessons learnt and achievements, such as bringing local authorities together to solve common challenges, and in particular how a group of local authorities and suppliers are cooperating together to deliver an open source solution.
Council Spotlight: Achieving for Children
17 February 2022
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For this edition of the Council Spotlight, we are highlighting Achieving for Children — a not-for-profit social enterprise owned by three councils.
Modernising planning software in collaboration with councils and their suppliers
21 January 2022
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Our digital planning software work is moving into a new phase of collaboration and delivery with Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) and software providers.
Council Spotlight: East Sussex and Data to Insight
22 December 2021
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For November’s edition of the Council Spotlight, we invited East Sussex County Council to share the story of Data to Insight, a national children’s services data collaboration. East Sussex County Council hosts Data to Insight as part of the South East Sector Led Improvement Programme.
We’re awarding funding to 9 projects through Round 5 of the Local Digital Fun
16 November 2021
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Today we’re pleased to announce the 9 council-led digital projects that will be awarded funding through Round 5 of the Local Digital Fund.
How our training offer is supporting local government with day-to-day working
18 October 2021
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It’s been seven months since we launched an online library of training courses to support our local government colleagues to develop their digital skills while working remotely. In that time, we’ve had 218 applications from people working in more than 100 councils for more than 40 courses.
Council Spotlight: Croydon Digital
12 October 2021
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As part of our new council spotlight feature, we invited Croydon Council to share their digital transformation story with us. In this guest blog, Dave Briggs, Head of Digital Operations at Croydon Digital Service, and his colleagues, share their journey to building the Croydon Digital Service and the role of the Local Digital Declaration.
MHCLG launch two beta products in a first step towards digital planning reform
30 June 2021
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We’re pleased to announce the launch of a private beta of two new council-led digital planning products, funded by the Local Digital Fund.
What our training offer is teaching us about the needs of local government
10 June 2021
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Earlier this year, we launched a library of online training courses to support our local government colleagues to learn and develop their digital skills while working remotely. We want to share with you what we’ve learned so far and what we plan to do next. You can also find out how we’ve expanded the offer to provide even more training opportunities.
The Cyber Support team’s technical remediation and support activities
18 March 2021
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During the cyber security discovery last year, we identified five areas of opportunity for MHCLG to support councils in improving their cyber health. One of these areas was technical remediation: providing support to councils identified through the survey on mitigating malware and ransomware.
Kicking off the Cyber Health Framework Alpha phase
3 March 2021
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During a Cyber discovery in 2020, a Cyber Health Framework was identified as one of the main areas of opportunity to progress into an alpha project, supporting council staff to navigate numerous and sometimes overlapping standards.