This month we’re focusing on a subject at the forefront of many people’s minds – LGR and the formation of Unitary Authorities across the country.
We’ll be covering the impact of LGR on waste and recycling collection and discussing our hand in the successful integration of local authorities.
We’ll also make you aware of upcoming events and remind you of our client’s access to our RouteSmart Masterclass webinar series.
Happy reading – and you know where we are if you have any questions!
As more areas across England move towards single-tier, unitary authorities, Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) is expected to impact waste and recycling services significantly. The aim is to simplify governance, reduce duplication and deliver long-term savings. For waste services, however, the transition is far from straightforward.
Councils must harmonise collection policies, align contracts, integrate IT systems and redesign collection routes to reflect new authority boundaries and depot locations. Without careful planning, these changes can lead to service disruption, increased complaints and operational inefficiencies.
Common challenges include:
– Integrating customer and operational data
– Managing differing collection policies inherited from predecessor councils
– Reviewing fleet deployment
– Supporting staff and contractors through organisational change
While these challenges are significant, LGR also presents an opportunity to modernise services. Rather than simply combining existing operations, councils can redesign collection rounds, optimise fleet utilisation and introduce more data-driven ways of working.
Integrated Skills has extensive experience supporting Local Authorities through periods of organisational change.
Using RouteSmart Optimize, councils can model new collection scenarios and optimise routes for changing geographies and workloads, while SmartSuite provides crews with real-time information, helping maintain service quality even as rounds evolve.
With the right planning, technology and operational insight, LGR can become an opportunity to create more efficient, resilient and sustainable waste collection services.
“Having worked alongside local authorities for much of my career, I know that organisational change of this scale creates both opportunities and challenges. The hard work begins after the decision is made: integrating services, maintaining performance, supporting staff and ensuring residents continue to receive the services they rely on every day.
I think our partner, Frith Resource Management put it perfectly in their recent post re LGR:
“As local authorities reorganise and form larger unitary authorities in the period 2027 – 2028, legacy areas may have different service delivery types in place. Service unification will subsequently be explored to streamline the legacy governance arrangements. Experience tells us that this will not be a swift process, and harmonised services and governance will probably still be in development in many of these areas into the 2030’s.”
Alan Paget, CEO, Integrated Skills
With LGR high on the agenda for many councils, WRAP recently brought together waste leaders from two authorities that have already completed the transition to unitary status to share their experiences.
The webinar offered a valuable reminder that, while every authority’s journey is different, many of the challenges and solutions are remarkably similar. One of the strongest themes heard throughout was that harmonisation is a journey, not a single event.
Bringing together different collection services requires far more than simply changing governance structures. It involves aligning collection frequencies, container types, depot operations, contracts, IT systems, communications, service standards and customer expectations, all while continuing to deliver reliable frontline services every day.
Both speakers emphasised the importance of preparation before Vesting Day. Early decisions around policy, branding, communications and service standards helped create consistency for residents – even where operational systems remained separate behind the scenes. Existing relationships between teams and partner organisations also proved invaluable in maintaining momentum throughout the transition.
The webinar highlighted that harmonisation doesn’t end once the new authority is established. In West Northamptonshire, work continues to align service delivery methods, collection frequencies, back-office systems, contracts and routes several years after reorganisation. Similarly, North Yorkshire described an ongoing programme of transformation covering kerbside collections, working practices, Household Waste Recycling Centres and future infrastructure planning.
Perhaps the most reassuring message for authorities beginning their own LGR journey was that there is no need to achieve everything at once.
Both councils demonstrated the value of phased implementation, careful prioritisation and evidence-based decision-making. Starting early, engaging stakeholders and testing options before committing to change were recurring themes throughout the discussion.
For senior waste officers now preparing for LGR, the webinar offered an encouraging perspective. While the scale of change can appear daunting, the experiences shared showed that with clear planning, strong collaboration and a focus on maintaining service continuity, reorganisation can become an opportunity to build more consistent, resilient and efficient waste services for the future.
Free Learning for All RouteSmart Users
One of the many benefits of being an Integrated Skills RouteSmart client is free access to our ongoing RouteSmart Masterclass webinar series. These sessions are designed specifically for users who want to build their knowledge, refresh existing skills and get even more value from their RouteSmart software.
Led by Josh Wheddon (pictured), one of our experienced Route Optimisation Consultants, the webinars provide practical, hands-on guidance in a relaxed format. Many of you will already know Josh from your RouteSmart training sessions, and his webinars continue that learning journey by exploring individual features, workflows and best practice in greater detail. They also provide an opportunity for users to ask questions and share experiences with other RouteSmart users.
Our most recent Masterclass, held on the 23rd of July, focused on one of the most important aspects of day-to-day route management: Route Editing. The session explored why route editing is such a valuable tool for operational teams and demonstrated how users can efficiently make changes as services evolve.
The RouteSmart Masterclass programme continues throughout the year. Each webinar is designed to help users develop confidence in the software while discovering new ways to improve efficiency and get the very best from their investment.
If you’ve not yet joined one of the sessions, we would encourage you to do so. They’re free, informative and designed specifically with our RouteSmart user community in mind. Keep an eye on our webinar page and your inbox for details of upcoming sessions.
16-17 September 2026 – NEC, Birmingham: RWM
With our expanded stand (CT-G284) at this years’ RWM we’ll have plenty of space on to accommodate clients, prospects & partners. Come and talk to us about route optimisation and waste & recycling, street cleansing & winter maintenance management software.
23-24 September 2026 – Excel, London: Parcel+Post Expo
Find us at Hall: 11, Stand: 11.205 along with our route optimisation software partner, RouteSmart Technologies. Come along to discover the latest delivery technology, hear from senior leaders, and explore new ideas shaping the sector.
8-9 October 2026 – Hilton Metropole, Birmingham: LARAC
Andy Clewes and Stuart Henshaw will be on the ISL stand – feel free to pop by and hear how clients are using our RouteSmart route optimisation solutions to plan for LGR, food collection roll-outs and electric/hydrogen vehicle trials. Also on show is the latest iteration of SmartSuite – ISL’s waste & recycling management software.
If not, now is a great time to connect with us and keep up to date with the latest developments in route optimisation, waste management technology and operational best practice.
Our company page shares regular updates and news about software enhancements, client success stories, case studies, upcoming webinars, industry events and product developments. It’s an easy way to stay informed about what’s happening across the sector and discover how organisations are using technology to improve efficiency and service delivery.
It’s also worth following members of the ISL team who regularly share their own insights, experiences and commentary on industry topics. Their posts often explore practical challenges facing local authorities and environmental services, along with emerging technologies and new ways of working.
A great example is CEO Alan’s recent post highlighting an Ordnance Survey article examining the important role route optimisation software can play in helping organisations reduce fleet emissions and support decarbonisation goals. It’s exactly the kind of practical, thought-provoking content our team enjoys sharing with the wider RouteSmart community.
Whether you’re looking for operational tips, technology updates or simply want to keep your finger on the pulse of the industry, we’d love to connect with you. Follow the Integrated Skills company page and our team members on LinkedIn to make sure you never miss an update.
Stuart Henshaw – Business Development Director
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