On May 11th 2022 the UK government published further information about the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, a bill that looks to reduce inequality in productivity, health, incomes and opportunity across the country. Change management will be required at national and local level to achieve the objectives of the bill which have been defined as:
- Boost productivity, pay, jobs and living standards by growing the private sector, especially in those places where they are lagging
- Spread opportunities and improve public services, especially in those places where they are weakest
- Restore a sense of community, local pride and belonging, especially in those places where they have been lost
- Empower local leaders and communities, especially in those places lacking local agency
This document provides a clear agenda as to the expectations of the UK government on industry and organisations, with a clear emphasis being placed on empowering local leaders and authorities. The proposed initiatives identified within this bill will result in monumental changes occurring across local authorities, from the implementation of new governance and procedures to the adoption of digital software and technology, in order the meet the following objectives:
- Closing the gap between the richest and poorest areas
- Eradicating child illiteracy and innumeracy
- Closing gaps in life expectancy
- Closing the gap between the effective of transport and connectivity
With any change management initiative, the process for change must be planned and managed to ensure the objectives of the agenda are successfully realised.
Whilst the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill is a way off from becoming an Act of Parliament it has generated considerable interest within government and industry. Therefore, understanding of its content and the implications on business must be considered. From reviewing the latest information released by the UK government we believe that the key considerations to the implementation of this Bill on organisations and industry will be the following:
- Devolution of power = change of governance and decision making
- New digital technologies = change to internal infrastructure
- Replacement of systems and policies = changes to ways of working
For the objectives of this Bill to be realised the affected organisations will have to embark on a significant change management project, with the introduction of new powers, including:
- Powers to run High Street auctions to auction off shops that have been empty for more than a year
- Increasing council tax on empty houses or second homes
- Making it easier for businesses to get the licence for outside dining
- Locally set section 106 payments to pay for local infrastructure
- Digitised planning systems to make it much easier to make or view an application
- Stronger protections to make better use of brownfield land and protect the green belt
- Local design codes to make better use of materials to suit the location
This level of change, across local authorities and their stakeholders, will require extensive planning and programming to ensure its success. The consequence of poor change management will not only result in the Bill’s ambitions not being achieved but also increased costs and risks across the impacted organisations. The success of this Bill, if it becomes an Act, will be attributed to the approach and implementation of change at both the national and local levels. If the change is successfully managed the objectives of this Bill can be achieved.
For more information on change management Provelio’s “How to Change your Organisation for the Better” guide presents the key principles you will need to know to manage organisational change successfully. It promotes thinking from first principles when deciding on your strategy. The 5 key principles are:
- Strategy is all important
- The goods or services that you provide have an important effect on the organisation
- Your strategy will be driven by your headcount and the way that you are structured
- Working methods have a profound effect on your strategy
- The technology that you use will also affect your strategy