GDS Local Launched To Link National And Local Services

A new GDS Local unit has been launched to give residents simpler, consistent access to both national and local government services through a single digital system.

What the Government Has Announced

On 22 November 2025, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) unveiled GDS Local, a dedicated team within the Government Digital Service (GDS) created to support councils with digital transformation. The stated aim is to help local authorities modernise services, reform long-term technology contracts, and make better use of shared data to improve everyday tasks such as managing council tax, reporting issues in a local area, applying for school places or accessing local support.

Three Main Priorities

The government says GDS Local has been set up with three core priorities, which are:

1. To help councils connect to existing national platforms including GOV.UK One Login and the GOV.UK App. These platforms already underpin central government services such as tax, passports and benefits, and the plan is that residents will eventually only need one secure account for both national and local services.

2. Market and procurement reform, with a clear focus on helping councils break free from restrictive long-term contracts that limit flexibility and often involve high costs for outdated systems.

3. To improve the way councils use and share anonymised data, supported by a new Government Digital and Data Hub that brings together digital and data professionals from across the public sector.

Part of “Rewire The State”

The launch actually forms part of a wider programme to “rewire the state” and address the findings of the recent State of Digital Government Review, which estimated that modernising public services could release up to £45 billion in productivity gains each year. Reports cited during the review also suggest that digital and data spending across the UK public sector remains well below international benchmarks.

Why Local Councils Are A Major Focus

Much of the UK’s recent digital modernisation has taken place at central government level. The roll-out of GOV.UK One Login, changes to HMRC’s digital services, and new online systems for benefits and health services have all progressed, yet councils have often been left to modernise in isolation. This is despite councils being responsible for many of the services people use most frequently.

Minister for Digital Government Ian Murray said this gap had persisted “for too long”, arguing that councils had not benefited from the same investment or support as central departments. Announcing the new unit, he said GDS Local would help end the “postcode lottery” for digital services and give every resident access to “modern, joined-up and reliable online services”. He described the aim as ensuring that public services “work seamlessly for people wherever they live”.

The scale of the challenge becomes clearer when looking at the underlying numbers. For example, digital spending in local government is significantly lower than the levels seen in comparable sectors internationally. Also, councils depend on ageing systems, often supplied by a small number of long-standing vendors who offer limited interoperability and hold councils in expensive, inflexible contracts. Many of these contracts are due to expire over the next decade, which the government sees as an opportunity to reshape the market and encourage more competition.

Creating A Single Account For Local And National Services

One of the most visible changes GDS Local aims to deliver is the integration of GOV.UK One Login into local services. One Login is the national secure identity system that will eventually replace dozens of separate logins across the public sector. The government argues that using this same system for councils will make services simpler for residents and more efficient for local authorities.

If fully implemented, this would allow residents to sign in to the GOV.UK App or website and access everything from council tax accounts to local housing support using the same verified identity they use for passport renewals or DVLA services. This approach is expected to reduce duplication, strengthen security, lower failure rates when people cannot remember multiple passwords, and give councils access to a modern identity system without having to build one independently.

Central Solutions Imposed On Councils

GDS has emphasised that this work will not involve imposing central solutions on councils. GDS Local leaders Liz Adams and Theo Blackwell said the priority is to “collaboratively extend proven platforms and expertise”, recognising the unique needs of each authority. They also stressed that councils’ own experience in designing local services will remain central to how the national platforms evolve.

Reforming Long-Term Technology Contracts

Long-standing technology contracts have been one of the biggest barriers to local digital progress. For example, many councils have been locked into multi-year agreements with a single supplier covering critical services such as revenues and benefits, social care or housing. These systems often cannot integrate easily with modern tools or data platforms, making it harder for councils to innovate or switch provider.

The government’s announcement described these arrangements as “ball and chain” contracts that “lock councils into long-term agreements with single suppliers, often paying premium prices for outdated technology”. GDS Local has been tasked with giving councils more control, increasing competition, and helping authorities choose systems that support modern digital standards.

This work will be carried out with the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). The LGA has long argued that councils need more flexibility and more competitive procurement options. Its Public Service Reform and Innovation Committee chair, Councillor Dan Swords, welcomed the move and said the new unit offered “a fantastic opportunity to accelerate the pace of transformation”, making services “more accessible, efficient and tailored to local need”.

Improving How Councils Use and Share Data

Alongside GDS Local, the government has also launched the Government Digital and Data Hub, which is a central online platform for digital and data professionals across the public sector. The hub brings together staff from central government, councils, the NHS and other public bodies, offering training, career guidance, resources and a network to share expertise.

One goal of the hub is to help councils share anonymised data on issues such as homelessness, social care demand and environmental trends. The intention is to help authorities learn from one another’s approaches, scale innovation that works, and identify emerging issues earlier. GDS argues that shared learning and consistent data practices can help reduce duplication and improve service planning across regions.

Liverpool City Region As An Early Partner

Liverpool City Region has been closely involved in the early stages of GDS Local and was chosen as the location for the national launch. The region has previously developed a Community Charter on Data and AI, led by local residents, to set clear principles for responsible data use. It has also experimented with data-driven projects through initiatives such as its AI for Good programme and the Civic Data Cooperative.

Councillor Liam Robinson, the region’s Cabinet Member for Innovation, described GDS Local as “an important step forward” and said the region’s recent work showed how data and technology could be used to tackle real-world challenges such as improving health outcomes or addressing misinformation.

The launch event also highlighted the upcoming Local Government Innovation Hackathon in Birmingham, taking place on 26–27 November. The event will bring together councils, designers, technologists and voluntary organisations to explore how digital tools can help address homelessness and rough sleeping.

What Comes Next?

Councils are now being invited to register interest in working with GDS Local through discovery projects, data-sharing initiatives and early connections with GOV.UK One Login. More detailed plans are expected over the coming months as DSIT and GDS set out the next steps for integration, procurement reform and data standards.

The unit’s success will depend on how widely councils engage with it, how effectively central and local systems can be joined up, and how quickly legacy barriers can be removed.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

All of this seems to point to a more consistent experience for residents, but the scale of change involved will test how well central and local government can work together. Councils will, no doubt, need sustained support to unwind their legacy systems, adapt to common identity standards and take advantage of shared data platforms. Some authorities are already well placed to do this, while others face steeper challenges due to funding pressures, outdated infrastructure or complex service demands. The success of GDS Local will rely on whether these differences can be narrowed rather than deepened.

The implications stretch beyond councils. For example, UK businesses that depend on timely licensing decisions, planning processes, environmental checks or local regulatory services could benefit from faster and more predictable digital systems. More consistent use of One Login may reduce administrative friction for organisations interacting with multiple authorities, and clearer data standards may help suppliers build tools that work across regions rather than creating bespoke versions for every council. There are also opportunities for technology firms to compete in a reformed procurement environment where long-term lock-in no longer dominates the market.

Residents, meanwhile, may stand to gain from simpler access to core services and a clearer sense of what to expect from their local authority regardless of where they live. Improved data sharing may also help councils respond earlier to really serious issues such as homelessness, care demand or environmental risks, which could influence wider public services including health and emergency response.

The coming months will show how quickly GDS Local can turn its priorities into practical progress. Much will depend on how well central platforms can adapt to local needs and how effectively councils can reshape contracting arrangements that have been entrenched for years. The foundations laid through this launch should give the programme a clear direction, although the real measure will be whether residents and organisations begin to notice services becoming easier, faster and more consistent across the country.