Abstract
This briefing draws on research with five local authorities in England to examine how relationships between communities and local government have played out during the COVID-19 pandemic. It draws attention to a complex and interlinked response to the crisis from communities and local councils, founded upon a consistent and collaborative approach to working closely with communities, experience of earlier crises, and a fine balance struck between leading and enabling community action. The briefing illustrates the effectiveness of a trust-based relational approach to community engagement but notes that the push for greater community power can both ebb and flow.
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