Post-Election Change in North West Councils 2026:

Leadership, Governance & Support

The 2026 local elections have brought significant political change across the North West, particularly in Lancashire, Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region. A shift away from single-party control, the emergence of increased political groups in many areas, alongside an increase in the number of new elected members signals a new phase of local governance, one defined by collaboration, adaptability and strong leadership.

What do the changes mean?
There are clear signals of evolving political landscapes, with new voices entering council chambers and influencing local priorities.

There are more areas with No Overall Control (NOC) and councils now having multi-party arrangements creating a new political culture, and a new era that we are now operating in. This translates into a changing political leadership landscape.

The Leadership Challenge

At a time when councils must maintain stability while navigating political change, North West Employers is ready to support members and officers in building effective, outcome-focused leadership across the region, for the benefit of our local communities.

Across the North West, councils now face a shared challenge:

Establishing stable leadership in NOC environments

Building effective cross-party relationships

Supporting newly elected members

Maintaining momentum on local priorities and service delivery

We understand that periods of political transition can create uncertainty, but they also provide an opportunity to reset, strengthen governance and refocus on delivering for communities.

How North West Employers Can Support Our Members

Here at North West Employers we provide a trusted, politically neutral regional support package designed to help councils respond effectively to these changes.

We are your member organisation, trusted and owned by you, our Local Authorities.

Grounded in local government experience, national insight and regional expertise, our offer focuses on enabling strong political, officer and place leadership.

We provide a broad portfolio of networks, webinars and programmes to support our members and we are adding to these regularly with new, relevant and focused subject areas to keep you informed such as ‘Social Media & AI for Councillors’ – Visit our website to see the full range of events on offer: Explore Our Events – Designed With You in Mind

Each of these programmes, networks or webinars are trusted by our core members, to provide the expertise and resilience to support you through a period of transition and change.

Here’s just a taste of events designed to support you:

Life as a Councillor – Regional Induction Programme

This proven and practical induction programme complements local provision in real-world scenarios:

Delivered by experienced councillors

Focus on roles, responsibilities and behaviours

Emphasis on leadership of place

Opportunities for regional networking and peer learning

Building Effective Member–Officer Relationships

Strong governance depends on trust and clarity. We support councils to:

Define roles and responsibilities clearly

Strengthen working relationships between members and officers

Address tensions early and constructively

Away Day Facilitation

For Cabinets, Corporate Management Teams and joint sessions:

Independent facilitation to align priorities and purpose

Support for governance, decision-making and accountability

Space to reset leadership culture during periods of change

Introduction to Scrutiny

Helping councils move beyond compliance to impactful scrutiny:

Understanding the purpose and principles of scrutiny

Clarifying roles for members and officers

Strengthening scrutiny as a value-adding function

Regional Networks and Good Practice

We also provide access to confidential regional networks, offering safe spaces to share challenges and insights:

North West Regional Leaders’ Board

Portfolio Holder Networks (Adults and Children)

Councillor Development Network

Strategic Scrutiny Network

Women in Political Leadership Network

You can be assured that our work is informed by national best practice, including resources from the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS) and the Local Government Association (LGA)—ensuring you are supported with up-to-date guidance on operating in NOC environments and managing leadership change.

Why North West Employers?

Regionally rooted, nationally informed

Politically neutral and trusted across parties

Practical, tailored and experience-led support

Reinvestment into the local government community

Looking Ahead

The 2026 election results mark a turning point for many North West councils. As governance arrangements evolve, the ability to foster strong leadership, collaboration and clarity will be essential.

North West Employers stands ready to support councils through this transition helping leaders stabilise, align and deliver for their communities.

Explore Our Events – Designed With You in Mind

📧 sharons@nwemployers.org.uk | patw@nwemployers.org.uk
📞 0161 834 9362
🌐 www.nwemployers.org.uk

Championing the collective power of North West authorities

Blog by Gillian Bishop, Chief Executive at North West Employers, May 2026