Read our councillor guide and 2026 Policy Essentials

If you are a newly-elected or existing councillor, our Policy Essentials - updated for 2026 - aim to give councillors a short and concise overview of some of the most important issues for the main local government services. These short documents focus on county-based issues.

Our Policy Essentials are released in tandem with our Guide to CCN - designed to give councillors a short introduction to our network, our priorities, and how we work - and how they can get involved.

Each policy essential includes an overview of the key responsibilities for councillors and their councils, why that policy is a key priority for the CCN, key national developments in that area, and the CCN's own policy position on that given service.

These documents follow last week's publication of our 2026/27 Business Plan and Work Programme, which gives a fuller picture of the CCN's priorities for the year in tandem with its vision for the future.

Download individual guides for services below.

• Policy Essentials: Finance and reorganisation
• Policy Essentials: Adult social care
• Policy Essentials: Children's services
• Policy Essentials: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
• Policy Essentials: Home to school transport
• Policy Essentials: Housing
• Policy Essentials: Planning and infrastructure
• Policy Essentials: Transport
• Policy Essentials: Economic growth and devolution
• Policy Essentials: Neighbourhood health