You can read about the progress we have made through our programme in our annual progress report.
We have a range of projects underway in this workstream, some are intended as building the evidence for the sector and others about taking immediate opportunities.
Our projects are supported from colleagues across the sector and each has a volunteer Project Director and supported by volunteer colleagues who bring professional expertise and insight.
The projects aim to create opportunities for councils to collaborate more effectively, ultimately delivering services that better meet the needs of communities.
All of our projects are interconnected and the Improvement Service Programme Management Office provides support to ensure these interdependencies are identified and taken into account.
You can find a short snapshot of the ambition and work underway in some of the projects below. Our work is constantly evolving to meet the needs of the sector.
Analysis of local government's statutory and discretionary services
Project Director: Anthony Carr, Dundee City Council
Ambition
To assess current legislative landscape for local government and put forward proposals for the re-configuration of services towards more sustainable front-line services and better customer experience. To have a live resource for the sector that provides up to date information on the legislative parameters we work within.
Work underway
The first phase of the project has been to create our Duties and Powers portal which is a live resource setting out the legislative parameters for local government. This is Scotland’s first common register of the legislation governing local government functions. Access the portal.
We are working with a range of stakeholders to understand where there may be opportunities for change. The work here connects in with a number of other projects including shared services.
One example of a change proposition being investigated is the legislation around public information notices and the opportunity to have more choice on how the notices are published.
The full implementation of Crerar for Local Government
Project Director: Lesley Brown, East Lothian Council
Ambition
To create a balanced approach that supports self-improving systems across the sector, while considering the needs of all agencies involved in scrutiny.
Work underway
Following the discovery report launch, the project team made four recommendations which both initiated new activity and highlighted the interdependency of existing efforts:
- More rigorous and robust approaches to Self-Evaluation.
- Strengthen and scale peer collaborative improvement.
- Publish Local Government Assurance Framework.
- Strategic alignment towards Crerar aspirations for risk based, proportionate scrutiny.
Work then took place to develop a National Self Evaluation Framework for the sector which was agreed by Solace early 2026. The project team are assisting the sector with implementation. There are four pilot councils who are being supported and learning is being shared across remaining councils. Further information can be found at the dedicated website.
Development of a digital to-be state for Scottish local government
Chief Executive Sponsor: Nikki Bridle, Clackmannanshire Council Project Director: Colin Birchenall, Digital Office
Ambition
To agree a collective digital to-be state for Scottish local government.
Work underway
Work has been underway to develop an implementation plan and toolkits that will help local authorities - and the wider sector - put the vision into practice. This will shortly be launched and includes four elements, guided by a balanced and practical approach around what to buy, build and reuse: a Design Manual, a Delivery Manual, a Delivery Roadmap, and a Monitoring Framework. At the same time, there is a need to build a full and accurate picture of the current digital ‘as is’ at sector level, work is underway to achieve this.
Shared services
Project Director: Louise Reid, South Ayrshire Council
Ambition
The Shared Services project will give local authority Chief Executives a clear view of opportunities to scale or transfer existing arrangements, maximising benefits for both councils and communities, in line with the Delivering a Future for Scottish Local Authorities blueprint.
Work underway
The latest ‘Collaborative Working in Scottish Local Government’ report has been published in autumn 2025. The fourth in a series of reports published by the Improvement Service since 2009, it outlines the nature, trends, and high-level impact of active shared service arrangements between councils in Scotland. The project is in early stages and has commenced shared learning from work underway across the Ayrshire councils and in Forth Valley. There is also a working group in place looking at Non domestic rates.
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Delivering a future for Scottish local authorities: the challenges they face, the questions that need asking and a model for the future
This paper proposes a new approach for the future operating model of Scottish local authorities. The paper outlines the context that local government is delivering within, the challenges and opportunities it faces and how councils might transition to a model of service delivery that builds on current success but more deliberately supports effective partnerships to improve outcomes for communities.
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IS Strategic Framework 2023-2027
The IS Strategic Framework 2023-27 sets out our vision, purpose and values, and our key priorities for the next four years.