Policy paper

Local Outcomes Framework: Principles for use

Published 9 February 2026

1. Principles for use of the Local Outcomes Framework

The Local Outcomes Framework (LOF or “the Framework”) sets out the national priority outcomes delivered at the local level and driven by councils as local leaders of place. Local government will work in partnership with key delivery partners to improve these outcomes for citizens.

This document sets out principles to guide use of the Framework to deliver better outcomes for local people in England. These principles do not replace existing accountability mechanisms, for example Ofsted’s inspection of local authority children’s services or the Integrated Settlement Outcomes Framework for Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities, but are designed to drive a coherent approach to outcomes-based accountability and improvement.

Ultimately councils and other partners are responsible for their own performance. However, central government retains a strong interest in ensuring value for taxpayers and positive outcomes for local citizens. The Framework provides all levels of government, local partners and the public with clear, consistent information on the priority outcomes being delivered in a local authority area, helping to focus efforts on delivering for local people, and strengthening the way central government supports and holds councils to account for progress. 

2. Framework principles

1. Local government as leaders of place will work in partnership with other local bodies, local residents and service users to deliver the best outcomes for local people and communities across England. Central government’s response to progress against priority outcomes in the Framework will also serve the primary goal of supporting councils to improve outcomes for their residents and holding them to account where necessary.

2. The government will use the Framework to understand the national priority outcomes achieved in a local area, identifying examples of success and targeting improvement support and challenge. Relevant departments will lead on oversight and improvement for outcome areas relating to their responsibilities, building outcomes into existing accountability arrangements or developing bespoke approaches guided by these principles. This includes setting any expectations for outcome delivery and putting in place plans for how councils working with local partners will be supported and held accountable for achieving them. MHCLG will take a broader view across all the priority outcomes in a local authority area, considering whether challenge and support is needed for council leadership, and facilitating better HMG join-up around outcomes.

3. Government will assess the data in the Framework to understand the contributions of councils towards priority outcomes. To do this, government will take into account relevant contextual factors, wider data and assurance mechanisms, and the role all relevant bodies play in meeting overarching outcomes. Over time, government will work with local partners to develop new outcome measures to address any gaps.

4. Where the data suggests that outcomes in a local area are poor or declining Government will work with councils to properly understand the root causes, as well as the needs of local service users, so that appropriate action can be taken by the council, local partners and/or relevant central department(s).

5. Action may include improvement support, constructive challenge, and options for enhanced oversight and corrective measures where serious underperformance is identified, as well as potential policy change at the national level. This includes using data on a council’s performance against outcomes in the Framework to enrich comprehensive assessments for compliance with the Best Value Duty.

6. Government expects that local government will use the Framework to:

   • clearly articulate the outcomes being delivered in a local authority area and understand how those outcomes may interact.
   • monitor progress, bringing outcome delivery into multi-agency conversations.
   • inform strategic decision-making, prioritisation, and resource allocation at a local level.
   • support self-assessment and benchmarking their own performance, including to inform peer learning and self-improvement, and help drive sector-led improvement.
   • foster collaboration between local government and partner organisations.
   • demonstrate how funding from central government and that raised locally is being used to drive outcome delivery at a local level.
   • support conversations with central government on the challenges and opportunities facing local partners in delivering improved outcomes.
   • engage constructively with local residents and local public service users to help them understand service performance and actively steer improvement.

3. Data collection principles

The Framework is part of wider reforms designed to reduce unnecessary burdens on local government. Beyond the data included in the Framework, data collection from local government should have a clear need/purpose and reduce unnecessary reporting burdens, as well as enabling outcomes-based accountability.

New central data asks of local government should go through the Single Data List (SDL) process where appropriate, and abide by its principles.

Grant-related monitoring should seek to draw a line between inputs, outputs and the impact of local government activity, and align with MHCLG’s local government grant monitoring principles. These are to:

• only collect necessary data that will be used.
• use existing data sources where possible.
• only collect data as often as needed.
• standardise data collections where possible.
• be transparent.