President update 1st July - latest news from ADEPT
Hello everyone,
I hope you are all well and looking forward to taking some time off over the summer to recharge.
Over the last month, it was good to meet the presidents of the other local government bodies - ADCS, ADASS, ADPH and the LGA - to talk about the outcomes of the May local elections. I also hosted my first Leadership Team meeting, where we discussed the themes for the Autumn Conference.
I attended the LGC Net Zero Conference in Manchester, an engaging one day conference, that brought together local government leaders, officers and industry experts. The focus was exploring how local government is tackling climate change, learning how others are overcoming the challenges in achieving net zero targets through innovation, and sharing best practice. It was great to see the recognition of local authorities’ vital leadership on net zero and climate adaptation goals. It was also great to see the ADEPT branding throughout the venue!
You'll have seen that the government published its Spending Review 2025 recently. It's a mixed bag - we're pleased to see additional capital funding for local government and the commitment to multi-year settlements, which should give us all a bit more certainty to plan ahead. But we've also had to flag concerns about day-to-day spending allocations and what this means for the place-based services we all work so hard to deliver. You can read our full response here.
We also responded to the government’s publication of the National Industrial Strategy and on the funding announcement on road structures – you can read the media statements here and here. While we welcome the government's long term strategic approach to infrastructure investment, we have emphasised the scale of ongoing infrastructure challenges facing local authorities.
I am really excited by the recent launch of two new fully funded programmes. The ADEPT Carbon Leadership Programme, supported by DfT, will fund local highway authorities to measure and identify how to reduce their carbon emissions. Then there's the ADEPT Digital Academy - completely funded through the Apprenticeship Levy and powered by Multiverse, and is designed to accelerate digital and data skills across local authorities. I do hope you can take advantage of these great offers.
This week is your last chance to apply for the Leadership Pathway Programme, which is perfect for managers looking to step up into more senior leadership roles. It's designed for managers working in place services looking to elevate their career, make a meaningful impact and develop their skills as a future leader.
I look forward to working with you all over the coming months and continuing to drive ADEPT forward as we tackle the challenges and opportunities ahead.
For more updates on ADEPT's latest news, publications, and the work of our boards and groups, visit our website: www.adeptnet.org.uk
