A Day Shaped by Councils, for Councils
On 7 November 2025, local councils from across Northamptonshire gathered at Northants CALC for a day of open conversation about how artificial intelligence could shape the future of local governance. Hosted in partnership with CloudyIT and Breakthrough Communications, the workshop invited councillors and clerks to shape the agenda through an Open Space format – ensuring real questions, real concerns and real opportunities led every discussion.
The day was guided by Jon Harvey, Town Councillor, former Mayor of Buckingham, and an experienced organisational development specialist. His facilitation set a warm, curious and purposeful tone for what proved to be an honest and forward-looking conversation.
What Councils Explored Together
Many councillors arrived unsure whether AI had any real connection to their role. By the end of the day, most had uncovered practical, meaningful ways AI can support members in understanding issues, preparing for debates, engaging with residents and making more informed decisions.
Examples included:
- Simplifying complex topics such as planning regulations, governance guidance or national policy
- Summarising long reports, consultation documents or briefing papers before meetings
- Exploring community priorities through surveys, sentiment analysis or quick research
- Reviewing past council decisions and minutes to understand context and history
- Checking the implications of proposals using neutral, trusted reference material
- Producing clearer, plain-English updates for residents
- Understanding emerging risks or opportunities using sector-approved sources
- Comparing options or scenarios to support more confident, well-informed decision-making
These examples resonated strongly with members, who appreciated tools that help them “get to the heart of an issue”, “understand the detail more quickly” and “feel more prepared for conversations and meetings”.
Alongside the opportunities, councillors also discussed risks, from misinformation and fraud, to safeguarding and public trust. The discussions emphasised the need for human oversight, transparent use of AI, GDPR compliance and reliance on neutral, authoritative sector guidance rather than unverified sources.
A consistent theme was the need for accessible learning. Councillors said they would welcome guidance on assessing reliability, understanding different AI tools, seeing real examples from other councils and exploring how AI can support community engagement, scrutiny, policy exploration and resident communication.
A Sector Ready to Learn and Move Forward
Despite a range of starting points, participants described the workshop as “eye-opening”, “reassuring” and “far more relevant than expected”. Many acknowledged arriving sceptical – unsure whether AI had a meaningful place in local government, and leaving with a clearer, more confident outlook.
The collective view was clear:Â AI can support councillors, not replace them. However, it can help them grasp complex information quickly, improve clarity, widen access to data, strengthen debates and reduce time spent trawling through documents. But it also requires responsibility, transparency and careful judgement.
Throughout the day, participants used GovAssist, a secure AI platform designed specifically for local councils. It demonstrated how AI can be applied safely in a member-facing context: summarising documents, providing governance guidance, supporting planning queries and offering reliable sector-based information. Explore GovAssist at https://govassist.co.uk/.
We extend a sincere thank you to everyone who attended, shared experiences, raised questions and contributed to the discussions. The openness and curiosity in the room reflected the very best of local democracy.
What Participants Told Us
The reflections shared at the end of the day highlighted just how much the workshop shifted perspectives and built confidence.
Many arrived unsure how AI related to their role. They left feeling clearer, more informed and, in many cases, genuinely excited about the possibilities.
Highlights included:
- “I thought AI was irrelevant to small councils – now I see it’s highly relevant.”
- “I’m more confident explaining the benefits to other councillors.”
- “I now understand both the opportunities and the issues far better.”
- “With the right tools, AI could really support productivity.”
- “The session revealed gaps in my understanding that I now want to develop.”
Participants also shared key takeaways:
- “I can reduce time spent reading, researching and preparing for meetings.”
- “Even very small parish councils can engage with AI meaningfully.”
- “Open discussions helped clarify both risks and opportunities.”
- “Councils need a consistent, supported approach.”
- “Training and guidance will be essential as tools continue to evolve.”
Future sessions could explore:
- Examples from other councils
- Guidance for community engagement and research
- Support for larger projects and strategic decisions
- Understanding tools, licensing and safe-use approaches
What Happens Next:
The Northamptonshire workshop marked the beginning of a wider effort to support councils as they explore the role of AI. We’re now planning more AI Members Days across the country, working with CALCs and sector partners to continue the conversation.
If your CALC would like to host an AI workshop or if you’d like to join the list for future events, please register your interest.
If you would like the full set of questions and answers generated during the Northamptonshire workshop, please contact:
Tina Cunnell – [email protected]
And if you are a councillor, clerk, CALC officer or sector partner wanting to explore how AI can support your council’s understanding and decision-making, you can sign up to GovAssist here: https://govassist.co.uk/
