CCN publishes its Five Point Plan for National Renewal, as new Prime Minister enters office

Today the County Councils Network (CCN) publishes a ‘Five Point Plan for National Renewal’ for the incoming Andy Burnham government.

As Mr Burnham officially becomes Prime Minister and appoints his cabinet later today, the plan sets out the big priorities for county and rural unitary councils, and the network’s key asks for the new administration in government.

The document outlines how CCN’s member councils can work with the new administration to deliver a plan for national renewal that meets the specific needs of county and rural areas.

Responding to Mr Burnham becoming UK Prime Minister, Cllr Sean Matthews, Chair-Elect of the cross-party County Councils Network, said:

“The incoming Prime Minister has already signalled an ambitious pledge for a widespread devolution of powers across England. But his vision of good growth in every postcode and a ‘rewired Britain’ cannot be achieved by simply exporting ‘Manchesterism’ to urban areas while overlooking the untapped potential of county and rural areas.

“Counties are home to many former industrial heartlands, ripe for Mr Burnham’s ambitions for reindustrialisation and regeneration: they are home to 12m jobs and contribute almost 40% of England’s GVA. They must be offered a comprehensive plan of empowerment, powers on par with cities, backed by a clear and ambitious timetable for devolution.

“The new Prime Minister recently recognised that local government funding is threadbare. County areas have been particularly hard hit, with scarce resources diverted away from them to urban areas through the Fair Funding Review.  Addressing the funding concerns of county and unitary councils, growing demand for services and the specific costs of delivering rural services through a substantial injection of resource must be an early priority.

“But increased funding and greater devolution will not be enough if local authorities are built on shaky foundations. Plans inherited from the previous administration to reorganise county areas into smaller and potentially unsustainable unitary authorities have raised serious concerns from some county councils on the cost and major disruption this could cause to vital local services. The new administration should take ownership of this programme and should proceed only where proposals will create financially sustainable councils, protect local services and support a new wave of devolution.

“The Burnham government must also maintain momentum on major reform programmes, including SEND, children’s services and the Baroness Casey commission on adult social care. It is vital that the next government sees these changes through and does not dilute or delay them. Doing so would mean worsening services for vulnerable people and rising, unsustainable costs for local authorities.”

CCN’s Five Point Plan for National Renewal sets out the network’s key asks on devolution, social care, planning reform, special educational needs and disabilities, funding for local authorities and reorganisation. It sets out a compelling case as to why the Burnham premiership must empower county areas.

Cllr Matthews added:

“County and rural areas are central to achieving the incoming Prime Minister’s ambitions for good growth in every postcode, public sector reform, and a new era of devolution.

“This concise yet comprehensive plan sets out reforms needed to deliver these aims and unlock the full potential of our areas.”

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