Digital and cyber playbook launched to support council reorganisation

Local Digital has launched a new Digital and Cyber Playbook aimed at supporting councils through the complex technology challenges associated with local government reorganisation (LGR).

The Local Government Reorganisation Digital and Cyber Playbook brings together guidance, templates and practical insights from councils that have already undergone structural change. It is designed as a live resource that will evolve in response to practitioner feedback.

The playbook targets digital leaders overseeing reorganisation activity - including Chief Digital Officers, Heads of IT and Chief Information Officers - as well as programme teams managing specific technology workstreams. It also aims to provide assurance to senior officers outside digital that plans align with sector best practice on cyber security, data management and service continuity.

The initial release concentrates on three priority areas identified through user research with councils:

• Day one readiness - setting out the essential cyber, digital, data and technology requirements to ensure new authorities are operational, secure and legally compliant from inception.
  
  
• Managing expectations - helping leadership teams balance immediate reorganisation pressures with existing transformation commitments.
  
  
• Collaboration and baselining - encouraging early information sharing and joint planning between merging authorities to reduce risk and create foundations for longer-term reform.
  

The guidance reflects common concerns raised by councils, including maintaining service continuity, aligning legacy systems, safeguarding data and ensuring cyber resilience during transition.

The playbook has been developed collaboratively with local authorities, central government departments, sector bodies and suppliers. It draws directly on lessons from practitioners who have previously navigated reorganisation, including reflections on what they would have prioritised differently with hindsight.

Ben Cheetham, Head of Local Digital, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to colleagues across the sector who contributed their insights. We hope the Playbook becomes a valuable guide for councils as they prepare for day one and lay strong foundations for the future.”

Local Digital has also published a roadmap outlining future updates to the playbook. Planned areas of guidance include cyber readiness, service and data disaggregation, and digital leadership during transition. The team is encouraging councils and sector partners to contribute further case studies and feedback as the resource develops.