County Councils Network

We've had a fantastic opening day here at CCN Conference 2024, listening to expert speakers and networking with delegates from across local government. Recap on some of the highlights from today, including the thoughts of Stephen Kinnock, Kevin Hollinrake MP, Ian O'Donnell MBE, Gary Porter CBE FRSA, Dr Victoria Hills MRTPI FICE FRSA MCMI CMgr and more below - and roll on day two of conference tomorrow! ⬇️

Yesterday our senior public affairs advisor James Holden met a familiar face - Labour MP Jayne Kirkham. We discussed funding for county and unitary councils ahead of the final Local Government Finance Settlement and forthcoming Fair Funding Review, alongside the other big agendas the sector faces at the moment.

Today the Public Accounts Committee has released a report on the challenges within the SEND system. Our children's services spokesperson Roger Gough argues that that reform must be delivered quickly, including urgent clarity for councils on how government intends to manage their £5.9bn deficits. Read our response to the select committee's response here: https://lnkd.in/eWsHUGRe

🗣️ "We need the government to set out a comprehensive SEND reforms package and begin to implement them within the next 12 months, including immediate clarity on how government intends to address councils' deficits." Our children's social care spokesperson Roger Gough responds to the Public Accounts Committee's report on the challenges within in the SEND system on Sky News ⬇️ ▶️ Read our full response to the select committee's report: https://lnkd.in/eWsHUGRe

🗞️ More coverage of our analysis with IMPOWER Consulting in The Independent which reveals that there has been a 7% increase in looked-after children since 2019, but a 45% increase in care home placements in the same timeframe Roger Gough says it is market failure that is driving these costs, and county and unitary councils want to help shape promised reforms this year:

“Councils have to survive between now and social care reform being delivered, and that is a big worry.” 📻 Listen below to Martin Tett talk to John Stratford on LBC News Radio through our reaction to the government’s commission on adult social care, raising concerns over its timescales and arguing it’s scope must include working age adults. ➡️ We’re calling for extra resource for councils in the Spending Review to lay the foundations for these reforms: https://lnkd.in/eeyGJbMi

Our response to the government’s new social care commission made The Guardian live blog this afternoon, as Martin Tett says it is ‘vital’ local government has a prominent voice in the review. ➡️ Read our full on the day response: https://lnkd.in/eeyGJbMi

Today the government has announced an adult social care commission. Read our on-the-day response, as Martin Tett says the premise of the review is laudable but warns that councils are concerned that vital reforms will not be introduced until 2028 at the earliest ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eeyGJbMi

Last year, we released several impactful reports which led the debate on adult social care reform, children's services, special educational needs provision - and more. The research we released included high-profile pieces of analysis with PwC UK, Newton Isos Partnership Local Government Association PIXEL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED and IMPOWER Consulting. Recap on these reports: https://lnkd.in/e5mmufCu

We're just days away from a brand new year! Last month at CCN Conference, we asked our key speakers what they thought was the biggest priority for local government in 2025. Listen to the thoughts of Andy Haldane, louise gittins, James Bowen, Dr Victoria Hills MRTPI FICE FRSA MCMI CMgr, Ian O'Donnell MBE, Brenda Farrell and Nick Barnett below ⬇️