UK launches GDS Local to connect councils to One Login

If you’ve ever juggled two logins, three forms and a long phone queue just to sort a simple council task, today’s move matters. The government has launched GDS Local, a team set up to help councils modernise how you sign in, pay, report and apply online. The plan lands alongside a new Government Digital and Data Hub for public‑sector staff, and an innovation hackathon next week focused on homelessness solutions.

Here’s the simple idea: over time, you could use the same GOV.UK One Login and the GOV.UK app for both national and local services - one account instead of many. That means fewer passwords and proving who you are once rather than again and again. It won’t switch on overnight, and councils will join at different speeds, but the direction is clear.

Ministers say the goal is to end the ‘postcode lottery’ for online services so you get a consistent, reliable experience wherever you live. In plain terms: applying for a school place, renewing a parking permit, reporting a pothole or managing council tax should feel familiar from one area to the next. As Ian Murray, Minister for Digital Government, put it, the change is about making government work “seamlessly for people wherever they live.”

One big piece is how councils buy technology. Many are tied into long, expensive contracts that make it difficult to switch or improve. GDS Local is tasked with opening up that market so councils can choose better‑value tools and avoid getting stuck with outdated systems. For you, that should mean faster fixes, clearer forms and fewer crashes.

Another piece is data used well and safely. Councils will be supported to share anonymised trends - for example on homelessness or service demand - through the Government Digital and Data Hub so teams learn from what works without exposing personal details. And if you ever choose to delete your GOV.UK One Login, your council records still sit with the services you used; deleting the login does not erase service‑held data. That separation matters for privacy.

We like a real example. The Liverpool City Region has been working early with GDS and has involved residents in setting rules for responsible tech. Its Community Charter on Data and AI, built by a 59‑person residents’ assembly, sets 11 principles for trustworthy use of data - things like accountability, transparency and the ‘Five Safes’. The region’s Office for Public Service Innovation is using these guardrails on projects from health to tackling misinformation.

What this means for you: as councils adopt One Login, you’ll see fewer duplicate forms and clearer status updates. You might apply for a bus pass, track a housing application or pay council tax from the same sign‑in you use for central government. Not every service works with One Login yet - for example, some big systems still use older routes - but more are joining. Keep an eye on service pages for prompts.

Teachers and students: there’s a learning angle here. The Government Digital and Data Hub brings together free training, careers advice and communities of practice for the whole public sector - from councils to the NHS. If you’re exploring digital careers or teaching civic tech, this is a primary source to follow for webinars, certifications and case studies.

Let’s talk money claims. The government’s State of Digital Government Review estimates up to £45 billion a year in productivity benefits if services are fully digitised. Productivity isn’t the same as spare cash - it’s time saved, fewer errors, less fraud and smoother processes. We’ll be watching for transparent measurement so residents can see where time and money are genuinely saved.

Near‑term milestones help. GDS Local’s first public event is a two‑day innovation hackathon in Birmingham on 26–27 November, bringing local and central teams together to prototype tools for tackling homelessness and rough sleeping. Expect rapid experiments, not finished products - useful for learning what should scale.

A quick clarity note on who’s in charge. The launch press release places GDS Local within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, while the guidance page describes it as a unit within the Government Digital Service working with DSIT. In practice, treat it as a joint central team focused on helping councils adopt common tools and standards.

Finally, a naming tip for media literacy. You’ll see references to MHCLG - that’s the current name for England’s housing and local government department, previously known as DLUHC. If you’re checking sources, documents after July 2024 often use MHCLG. Knowing the rename helps you follow the paper trail.

What happens next is mostly local. Councils will decide what to adopt and when. For you, there’s nothing to do until your council prompts you - then you’ll either create a One Login or use the one you already have. We’ll keep covering the practical bits: what changes, what doesn’t, and how to spot good digital service design in your area.