1. © 2014 Grant Thornton UK LLP. All rights reserved. Voting buttons As we progress through the scenarios, we have included a number of questions. We would like your views. We understand that this maybe the first you will have seen of these scenarios, so we ask for your initial thoughts on them and how you feel they apply to your organisation.

2. © 2014 Grant Thornton UK LLP. All rights reserved. Which is the most likely scenario for your organisation? 1.Adaptive Innovation 2.Running to stand still 3.Nostril above the waterline 4.Wither on the vine 5.Just local administration 6.Externally imposed change

3. © 2014 Grant Thornton UK LLP. All rights reserved. Putting your organisation aside, what is the most likely scenario for local government as a whole? 1.Adaptive Innovation 2.Running to stand still 3.Nostril above the waterline 4.Wither on the vine 5.Just local administration 6.Externally imposed change

4. © 2014 Grant Thornton UK LLP. All rights reserved. Fast forward five years. Which position do you think you will be in? 1.Adaptive innovation 2.Running to stand still 3.Nostril above the waterline 4.Wither on the vine 5.Just local administration 6.Imposed disruption

5. © 2014 Grant Thornton UK LLP. All rights reserved. Do you see any circumstances in which local government will 'hand back' services to the government in the next 5 to 6 years? 1.Yes, there will definitely be cases where services are handed back to government 2.Yes, but only in parts of the sector 3.Not at all, it isn't a possibility

6. © 2014 Grant Thornton UK LLP. All rights reserved. Do you consider that there will be some form of externally imposed change in the next 5 to 6 years? 1.Yes, there will definitely be externally imposed change 2.Yes, but only in parts of the sector 3.Not at all, it isn't a possibility

7. © 2014 Grant Thornton UK LLP. All rights reserved. Conclusion and recommendations

8. © 2014 Grant Thornton UK LLP. All rights reserved. Four recommendations Political Parties Consider wholesale change. Whichever party forms the next government – they must be ready for a serious discussion within the sector. Whitehall and the rest of the public sector Must participate in constructive dialogue about what the future could look like, leading to real change Local government, and the private and 3 rd sector partners Agree that fundamental change is needed and begin to plan for a transition to a more sustainable long term framework. Individual Councils Understand which scenarios you identify with, the context in which you are working and what to do next.