About us

Improvement and Development Agency
for local government (IDeA)

The IDeA works for local government improvement so councils can serve people and places better.

Our offer is built around the real issues for local people, focusing on partnership working, place-shaping and tackling cross-cutting issues.

We use experienced councillors and senior officers, known as peers, who support and challenge councils to improve themselves.

We enable councils to share good practice through the national Beacon Scheme and regional local government networks. The best ideas are put on this website.

Our Leadership Academy programmes help councillors become better leaders so they can balance the diverse demands of people living in the same community.

Working with our national, regional and local partners, we help councils work through local partnerships to tackle local priorities such as health, children's services and promoting economic prosperity. We advise councils on improving customer service and value for money. We also promote the development of local government's workforce.

The IDeA is owned by the Local Government Association and belongs to local government. Together we lead local government improvement.

Further information

Business plans

IDeA business plan 2009/10 (PDF, 40 pages, 754KB)

Summary of the IDeA business plan 2009/10 (PDF, 4 pages, 370KB)

Summary of the LGA group business plan (PDF, 4 pages, 576KB)

Guide to services

LGA Group: our services for councils 2009/10 (PDF, 30 pages, 2146KB)

Annual reports

IDeA annual report 2007/2008 (PDF, 39 pages, 1360KB)

IDeA annual report 2007/2008 summary (PDF, 4 pages, 705KB)

Improvement and Development Agency is the trading name of the Improvement and Development Agency for local government, company registration 3675577, registered office Local Government House, Smith Square, London SW1P 3HZ.