Reimagining public services

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London city skyline

Background

Introduction

Public services help improve citizens’ lives. They are often funded by national government and delivered by public organisations, including:

  • Your local council
  • NHS
  • Police
  • London Fire Brigade
  • Transport for London

Some examples of when Londoners may use public services are:

  • Seeing a doctor or getting healthcare 
  • Getting help to stay safe and well
  • Finding or keeping a home
  • Education, childcare and support for children and young people
  • Getting around London
  • Emergency help and community safety
  • Keeping neighbourhoods clean and working well
  • Help to live healthier lives
  • Services that shape the places people live

The challenge

In London, as in the rest of the country, demand for these public services is rising. According to the Institute of Fiscal Studies, there is a 17% gap between the funding that local councils need to provide these public services and the funding that they receive (2023).  

Due to these pressures, London councils need to rethink how to:

  • Design public services to better meet this rising demand, and
  • Provide public services in a way that Londoners need. 

How you can make a difference

To help public services better meet the needs of Londoners, City Hall and London Councils want to hear from you:

  • How often do you access public services?
  • How satisfied or dissatisfied are you with public services in London?
  • What, if anything, would make public services easier for you to use? 
Take our survey

After taking part in the survey, you’ll be invited to our online discussion to read what Londoners are saying about London’s public services.

You can also get involved by:

  • Commenting or replying to members’ comments
  • Clicking the upvote (⬆️) or care button (❤️) next to members’ comments to show your support. 
Join the discussion

Accessible formats

Access and complete the Easy Read version of our survey and share your response via [email protected].


What happens next

London Councils will collate your feedback into a report. They will share this report with London boroughs to help them think differently about how to deliver public services.  

London Councils are planning further engagement, including a series of deliberative workshops. We will keep you updated with any new opportunities to take part.  

London Councils are also consulting with professionals and experts in local government to help inform this work.  


Delve deeper


About London Councils

London Councils are the collective of London local government, representing the 32 London boroughs and the City of London Corporation. They help local councils work together with partners and deliver for the communities they serve.

London Councils and City Hall are working together on this project to understand what Londoners want from their public services. London Councils works in partnership with City Hall on programmes including: 

Timeline

STAGE: Evidence gathering

Improving public services

Happening now
-

75 responses

Start the survey
STAGE: Policy design

September 2026: Analysing your feedback

Happened
STAGE: You said, we did

Autumn 2026: Publishing feedback

Happened
STAGE: Programme design

Autumn 2026: Designing the next programme of engagement

Happened

Autumn 2026: Publishing wider programme of engagement

Happened
STAGE: Programme launched

Autumn 2026: Delivering wider programme of engagement (including in-person workshops)

Happened
STAGE: You said, we did

Winter 2026: Publishing feedback from wider engagement

Happened

Seeing a doctor or getting healthcare

GP surgeries, hospitals, ambulances, pharmacies, dentists, mental health support. 

Getting help to stay safe and well

Social care for adults and children, safeguarding, support for disabled people, domestic abuse support 

Finding or keeping a home

Council housing, housing advice, homelessness help, temporary accommodation 

Education, childcare and support for children and young people

Nurseries, schools, SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) support, children’s centres, youth services, adult learning 

Getting around London

Buses, the Tube, Overground, trams, roads, walking and cycling support, concessionary travel (free off-peak travel for eligible older and disabled people)

Emergency help and community safety

Police, fire and rescue services, crime prevention, emergency response

Keeping neighbourhoods clean and working well

Bin collections, recycling, street cleaning, parks, playgrounds, pest control

Help to live healthier lives

Sexual health services, stop smoking support, drug and alcohol services, health improvement programmes

Services that shape the places people live

Planning, building control, environmental health, noise complaints, air quality work