New political leadership team confirmed at the County Councils Network as councillors engage the local government minister

The County Councils Network (CCN) has confirmed its new political leadership team for the next twelve months.

The new leadership arrangements reflect the new political balance of the network announced earlier this year, maintaining CCN's long standing commitment to cross-party working.

At the network's Annual General Meeting, Cllr Sean Matthews formally became Chair of CCN, following his announcement as CCN Chair-Elect in June. He will be supported by a cross-party team of vice-chairs representing all six political groups within the network.

Cllr Sean Matthews, Chair of the County Councils Network,said:

"I am honoured to formally become Chair of the County Councils Network and to lead our cross-party political leadership team at such an important moment for local government.

"County and unitary councils are at the forefront of delivering vital local services, supporting vulnerable residents, driving economic growth and helping government deliver its ambitions for public service reform.

"The strength of CCN has always been its ability to bring together leaders from different political backgrounds to find common ground and speak with one voice on the issues that matter most to our communities, retaining a collaborative and constructive approach that has made CCN such an effective advocate for councils."

The reconstituted CCN Management Committee includes the Green Party for the first time. The party met the threshold of forming a group on the CCN following May’s local elections.

The new vice-chairs of CCN are as follows:

• Cllr Martin Griffiths (Reform UK)
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• Cllr Lucy Nethsingha (Liberal Democrat)
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• Cllr Steven Broadbent (Conservative)
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• Cllr David Hitchiner (Independent)
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• Cllr Annette Dunning (Green Party)
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• Cllr Nick Mannion (Labour)

CCN Management Committee will form part of a wider 14-member CCN Executive Committee, constituted on a politically proportionate basis. The executive will provide leadership across the network's advocacy and research on local government finance, devolution, economic growth, housing, adult social care, children's services, education and SEND, waste and environment.

The confirmation of the new political leadership team came as council leaders and members from across England's county and rural unitary authorities were joined at the meeting by Jim McMahon, Minister for Local Government, Devolution and Regional Growth.

During a wide-ranging and constructive discussion, councillors engaged with their most significant issues, including the government's review of local government reorganisation, county devolution and ‘Rewiring the State’, local government finance, public service reform and economic growth.

Cllr Matthews added:

"It was also extremely welcome to engage directly with Minister Jim McMahon. Members had a positive and productive discussion on local government reorganisation, devolution, funding and growth, with the opportunity to press our key asks on the review of reorganisation and outlining the opportunities of empowering counties through devolution and public service reform.

“We look forward to continuing that constructive relationship as government's reform programme develops, with CCN continuing to provide a strong, credible and influential voice on behalf of its member councils."

CCN Executive Committee political balance 2026/27

• Reform UK: 5 members (35.3%)
• Liberal Democrat: 3 members (22.5%)
• Conservative: 3 members (21.9%)
• Independent: 1 member (8.8%)
• Green Party: 1 member (5.8%)
• Labour: 1 member (5.6%)

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