President's Update

Hello everyone,

I hope you've all managed to take some time off during the summer to recharge your batteries ahead of what promises to be a very busy autumn. Here are some highlights of what has been happening within ADEPT and what's on the horizon.

Hello everyone,

My first few weeks as President of ADEPT have been exceptionally busy and productive! Over the last month, I’ve been to the LGA Conference, caught up with colleagues at the corporate partner event and leadership alumni gathering and taken part in some great conversations around devolution and local government reform. 

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. 

Hello everyone,

I am delighted to be writing my first update as President of ADEPT! It is a real privilege to take on this role and I am thrilled to be working alongside such dedicated professionals committed to improving our places and communities.

Hello everyone,

This is my final update as President of ADEPT! It has been an absolute privilege to serve in this role over the past year, working alongside dedicated professionals committed to improving our places and communities. 

Hello everyone,

Spring has finally arrived and with it comes a fresh wave of activity and progress. 

I attended the National Flood Resilience Forum chaired by Minister Emma Hardy, focusing on enhancing flood resilience across the UK. I also participated in the MHCLG Local Government Funding Reform Strategy group, where we discussed the upcoming business rates consultation and funding changes planned for April 2026. 

Hello everyone,

I don’t know about you, but February has flown by! This month has been packed with developments across several key areas.

At our leadership team meeting, we received an important update from the LGA, focusing on devolution and local government reorganisation, highlighting the challenges of managing both simultaneously. Sonika Sidhu, Deputy Director for Place at the LGA, will be attending future discussions as they develop their own support offer, which we are keen to complement for ADEPT members.

Hello everyone,

Gosh, a month into 2025 already but didn’t January feel like a very long (and busy!) month? 

We recently had a really productive meeting with the joint presidents’ of ADASS, ADCS and ADPH plus the LGA. Together, we are preparing a joint pre-spending review submission to highlight the vital link between place based services, people services and health. It’s helpful too that ADEPT has a seat on MHCLG’s local government funding reform strategic group.

Hello everyone, Happy New Year! As we step into 2025, I'm really optimistic about the potential ahead of us. This new year brings important work and exciting opportunities for ADEPT and our members. Despite the challenges, our collaborative spirit and commitment to creating better places remains stronger than ever.

Hello everyone,

It's been another busy month for ADEPT, with our Autumn Conference taking centre stage, along with numerous meetings and strategic discussions. 

Our collaborative approach continues to be a strength. Hannah and I had a positive meeting with the new LGA chair, Louise Gittens, who is keen to engage. I attended the CIHT's launch of a critical policy report on highways resilience and adaptation to severe weather - a topic that increasingly demands our attention.