Plymouth to join scheme to improve services

Plymouth is one of a number of cities chosen by the government to pilot the scheme

Plymouth City Council has been selected by the government to pilot a new scheme aimed at improving public services.

The Test, Learn, Grow initiative aims to make services more responsive and resilient by "trying new ideas and learning quickly", the government said.

Part of the pilot includes electing "learning stewards" who will listen to feedback, share stories and adapt strategies.

Councillor Mary Aspinall said the initiative was about "putting people first and moving away from tick box targets and towards listening, learning, and adapting".

The council said it viewed the scheme as a chance to "rethink how we support residents facing complex challenges and inequalities".

Aspinall said: "We want to build services that work for the real world - messy, complicated, and full of human stories.

"This is about building trust, empowering communities, and making sure our services reflect the lives of the people who use them."

The council said Wellbeing and Family Hubs, charities and community groups would play a key role.

"The goal is to build a system that's more responsive, more resilient, and more rooted in the communities it serves," it said.

"It's a shift from top-down decision-making to something more collaborative and human."