LGA Conference 2025: A Ground-Level View from Tpas
Monday 7th of July 2025
Attending the Local Government Association Conference in Liverpool this year felt like stepping into a live dialogue about the future of local government, where housing, community development, and social care were not just agenda items but central threads in every conversation. As a representative of Tpas, I was particularly focused on how these national discussions translate to the daily lived experience of tenants—and how tenants' voices are (or aren't) being woven into the design and delivery of services.
Housing: From Crisis Talk to System Shifts
Housing was unsurprisingly front and centre, with several sessions addressing both the urgency of the housing crisis and the long-term reforms needed. There was palpable interest in the new STAIRS framework (Strategy for Tenant Accountability, Inclusion, Regeneration and Standards), with councils already very familiar with such measures with their experience in Freedom of information requests.
One highlight for me was the panel on "Councils and the Future of Social Housing", where both political leaders and housing practitioners spoke frankly about the chronic underfunding of local housing stock and the pressures of homelessness prevention. What was refreshing was the number of councils openly exploring deliberative engagement methods—from citizens’ juries to digital listening labs—as a way to meaningfully involve tenants in local housing plans.
I shared insights from our Tpas work with local authorities and ALMOs that are trialling new engagement frameworks, and there was strong appetite from councillors to learn how tenant involvement can shift from compliance to collaboration.
Community Development: Anchoring Belonging
There was also a strong emphasis on placemaking and community resilience, particularly in light of recent public health challenges and rising levels of poverty. Workshops on community wealth building and anchor institutions explored how councils can more effectively reinvest in their communities. From a tenant engagement perspective, I was particularly interested in how councils are beginning to see social housing providers not just as landlords, but as place-shapers.
Several examples stood out, including Salford’s Local Plan, which prioritises social infrastructure and community-led design, and Newham’s Community Assemblies, which are giving residents real influence over local priorities. These approaches are powerful when linked to housing delivery—they provide tenants with more than bricks and mortar, but with a sense of ownership and rootedness.
Adult and Family Social Care: Crossroads and Integration
Conversations around adult and family social care struck a different tone—one of cautious realism. There’s no doubt the system is at a crossroads. Panels were honest about workforce shortages, rising demand, and fractured funding pathways. But here too, I saw opportunities for integration with housing and tenant engagement.
In one standout fringe session hosted by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), speakers explored "home-first care models"—delivering support services that prioritise ageing in place. This has huge implications for housing design, adaptations, and how we work with tenants living with complex needs.
Looking Ahead
Overall, the LGA Conference reaffirmed what we at Tpas know to be true: that the best solutions emerge when councils involve communities in shaping the services that affect them most. The path ahead—whether in housing, social care, or placemaking—is one that must be co-designed with those who live the realities of these systems every day.
As the government prepares to roll out further legislation around housing standards and tenant rights, I’ll be keeping a close eye on how these national shifts are landing locally—and continuing to champion engagement as both a method and a mindset.
If you were at LGA and want to continue the conversation—or if you're a council looking to build new models of tenant engagement—do get in touch. We’re always up for sharing what works and learning what’s possible.