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One Legal Director’s Report June 2026 – A Year of Continuous Improvement
Posted on: 13th August 2026
One Legal Director’s Report June 2026
Looking Ahead: Collaboration, Continuous Improvement and Supporting Change
The announcement that Gloucestershire will move to a single unitary council provides welcome clarity about the future direction of local government across the county. While significant work remains before the new arrangements are implemented, the decision allows partners to focus on the next phase of planning and preparation. Local Government Reorganisation represents one of the most significant changes the sector has faced in recent years, and its success will depend on strong collaboration, effective partnerships and a shared commitment to delivering the best outcomes for our communities.
Legal services will play a vital role throughout this journey. From supporting governance and decision-making to advising on complex transformation programmes, our focus will be on helping partners navigate change with confidence. As councils work towards new structures and ways of operating, legal expertise will be essential in ensuring decisions are robust, risks are managed effectively and change is delivered successfully.
As we prepare for the future, it is also important to reflect on the progress made over the last year. At One Legal, we have continued to invest in our people, develop future talent, embrace technology where it adds value and make greater use of data to improve the way we deliver services. These achievements provide the foundations of a resilient, modern legal service that is well placed to support future challenges.
One of the strengths of local government is the willingness of colleagues and organisations to work together. Throughout the year, we have strengthened relationships across Gloucestershire through the Governance and Legal workstream, shared learning opportunities and day-to-day collaboration between legal teams. As Local Government Reorganisation progresses, those relationships will become increasingly important.
Our latest Director’s Report highlights many achievements from the past twelve months, all underpinned by a commitment to continuous improvement. One Legal was highly commended by Lawyers in Local Government for Excellence in Training, recognising our investment in developing future legal professionals. Fifteen colleagues have completed ILM leadership and management programmes, strengthening leadership capability across the organisation. Staff turnover is now at its lowest level for three years, while our wellbeing survey found that around 80% of colleagues feel able to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
We have also continued to improve the service we provide to our partners. Client satisfaction remains exceptionally high, with 98% of respondents rating our service as four or five stars. Looking ahead, our priorities remain clear: investing in our people, strengthening partnerships, embracing innovation and delivering high-quality legal services. By continuing to work collaboratively and focus on improvement, One Legal will be well placed to support partners through a significant period of change and help shape the future of local government across Gloucestershire.
SHAHZIA DAYA
DIRECTOR: ONE LEGAL
