Government must outline ‘practical devolution settlement for all’

The County Councils Network has urged the incoming government to set out a ‘practical devolution settlement for all’.

David Williams, chairman of the CCN, addressed hundreds of delegates at the network’s annual conference, and stressed that whoever enters Downing Street next month must ‘engage with county authorities’ on the big domestic issues, such as housing, care, and economic growth. He said that councils will need to hit the ground running in influencing a new government.

He cited CCN’s cross-party statement which was signed by the Conservative, Labour, and Liberal Democrat vice-chairmen last month.

Williams, who is also leader of Hertfordshire County Council, said: “Whoever enters Downing Street must engage county authorities on legislative reform and take steps to utilise the strategic role of county authorities across economic growth, housing, public sector reform and environmental protection.

“Crucially, this must be underpinned by genuine devolution. A devolution settlement for all, with a practical framework for devolved powers, institutional and structural reform to genuinely drive powers down to local communities; from Whitehall to county hall. Whatever the election may bring, I am confident that we will go from strength to strength, standing together on the issues that matter to our councils and our communities, and making a compelling case to the new administration.

“With the right tools, the right powers, and the right powers and the right funding, we can do much, much more; unleashing the potential of counties, both economically and socially for the benefit of the people we serve.”