Today, the County Councils Network (CCN) is pleased to announce that North Lincolnshire Council has officially joined the network as its latest unitary council member.
Stretching back to the reorganisation of the late 1990s, CCN has become the home for unitary councils that share common characteristics and that are located within historic non-metropolitan county areas. CCN already represents 17 unitary councils across the length and breadth of England.
An authority with a significantly rural population and geography, North Lincolnshire requested to join the network to collaborate with councils experiencing similar challenges and opportunities, access the wide-ranging research and support provided by CCN to member councils and to speak with one voice on key government reform agendas such as funding, special educational needs, children’s services, housing and planning.
North Lincolnshire becomes the third CCN unitary council member created in the 1990s reorganisation of local government, with East Riding of Yorkshire and Herefordshire Council both founding members of the network in 1997.
With the addition of North Lincolnshire, CCN unitary councils now represent almost half (43%) of the entire population of English unitary authorities.
As the largest national body representing the interests of non-metropolitan county and unitary councils, the network remains open to requests to join the network from non-metropolitan unitary local authorities that share the common characteristics of existing member councils.
Cllr Rob Waltham, Leader of North Lincolnshire Council said:
“For many years now, I’ve been hugely impressed with the advocacy of CCN across a wide range of policy agendas. It’s clear that the network punches well above its weight in securing significant gains for its members and influencing national policy through trailblazing research and strong representation.
“As one of the councils in the country with both outstanding children’s services and consistently high-performing adult services, North Lincolnshire brings a strong track record of delivery and innovation to the table. Our inclusion in CCN will strengthen the network further, adding the perspective of a unitary authority with a significant rural geography and population.
“We share many of the same challenges and opportunities as other CCN councils, and I’m looking forward to working collaboratively with fellow members to share best practice, shape policy, and speak with one voice on the most pressing issues facing local government.”
Simon Edwards, CCN Chief Executive said:
“I am delighted that North Lincolnshire has become the latest unitary council to join the CCN and we warmly welcome them into our network.
“Since CCN’s inception, the organisation has been the natural home for non-metropolitan and rural unitary authorities. That’s because our network has always been about more than council structures. What binds our network together and guides our research and advocacy is not only the services our councils provide, but the uniqueness of the shared issues and opportunities within the places our councillors represent.
“As the only national body representing the interests of non-metropolitan county and unitary councils, we remain open to requests to join the network. While reorganisation remains a key issue for county councils, the CCN is focused on supporting all of our member councils on the most important agendas facing local government, while significantly expanding our research and advocacy on the lower-tier services delivered by our unitary member councils.”
Notes to editor
- The County Councils Network (CCN) is the national voice for England’s county and unitary councils. It represents 38 councils: 20 county councils and 18 unitary authorities. Collectively, they represent 27 million people, or 47% of the country’s population. Read more here.
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