Update: We have updated our Manifesto for Counties to reflect the new government taking office and our councils’ latest priorities.

Manifesto
for Counties

An ambitious and bold vision to empower England’s county authorities and their communities
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The Manifesto for Counties has now been updated to reflect the post-election landscape and the policy agenda set out by the government during its first 100 days, including the County Councils Network's latest research and proposals in response.

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About

On 5th July, a new Labour government took office following a landslide General Election victory.      
Sir Keir Starmer’s government takes office at a critical period for local authorities in England, and in particular, the county and unitary authorities that represent the most significant part of the local government family.       

Over its first 100 days in office, the new government have begun to set out its vision for the country for the next five years and beyond. Local government is part of the fabric of England and the issues faced by county authorities, and the communities they represent, deserve to at the heart of this administration’s priorities for office.      

Now updated to reflect the policy agenda set out by the government, and built on an extensive evidence-base and a shared vision, the cross-party County Councils Network’s Manifesto for Counties sets out detailed proposals the network want to the new government adopt and then implement during this Parliament.      

This is an ambitious blueprint. It outlines how sustainable but empowered county and unitary authorities can work in partnership with the government to deliver their domestic agenda, while tackling some of our nation’s greatest economic and social challenges.  

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Why counties matter

The 37 councils that make up the County Councils Network are the largest local authorities in England. They represent towns, cities, rural and coastal communities across all four corners of the country: from Cumberland to Cornwall, Durham to Kent and Shropshire to Suffolk.  
   
With a new government in place, it is vital that the voice of county areas is heard loud and clear.      

The essential services they provide enhance the everyday lives of 46% of England’s population, some 26 million people, with these councils covering 86% of England. County Councils Network members are responsible for £37bn in local government service expenditure, using it to maintain 126,000 miles of roads, respond to 955,000 adult social care requests per year, whilst looking after over 31,000 children in care.     

Crucially, they contain 285 of the parliamentary constituencies  that make up the composition of the new parliament, including 125 MPs from the governing Labour Party.      

This is why counties matter: not just in parliament but for the entire country’s economic, social and environmental future.  

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26m
the total population of counties, 46% of England
285
parliamentary constituencies located in counties, 53% of the total
86%
of England's landmass covered by counties, some 11 million hectares
£760bn
Gross Added Value generated in counties, 39% of England’s economic output
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Foundations

Overview

The new government has taken office facing a myriad of challenges. It takes power hot on the heels of a global pandemic, the present cost-of-living crisis, worsening climate change, long-term productivity weaknesses and public finances under strain.

Whilst there are numerous challenges facing councils over the next five years, this parliament provides the opportunity for the new government to put forward proposals that would usher in a genuine step-change for how county authorities are empowered, resourced, and enabled to innovate, while fundamentally changing the relationship between central and local government.

Over recent years county and unitary authorities have shown time and again how they can step up and deliver for our nation: whether it be continuing to deliver excellent frontline services at a time of fiscal austerity, leading the local response to Coronavirus or supporting local economies to recover in the wake of economic shocks.

But to do even more - and deliver the proposals contained in this Manifesto for Counties - the new government must put in place four key foundations.  

Foundation 1

Sustainable Long-Term Funding

As this Manifesto vividly demonstrates, local government finances have never been under so much pressure.

After almost a decade of austerity and rising demand for services, the Covid-19 pandemic and cost-of-living crisis have placed further strain on already stretched budgets.

While recent short-term increases in funding have been welcome, this has only helped meet some of the additional costs of growing demand and historically high inflation - failing to address the structural underfunding of councils.

At the Budget and Spending Review, the new government must set out a long-term, sustainable funding settlement for councils, coupled with a comprehensive reform of council finances, while providing more freedoms and flexibilities to raise local revenues. 

Foundation 2

An Agenda for Reform

Funding alone, however, will not be sufficient to secure a sustainable future for local government and the essential services residents and businesses rely on.

The new government has inherited a tight fiscal envelope, and while additional funding is urgently required, it must go hand-in-hand with reform.

There needs to be a comprehensive review of councils statutory responsibilities to ensure that the duties and regulations placed on councils enable local authorities to provide services in line with local needs and the funding envelope available to them.

Most importantly, the government must work with the sector to implement the reforms contained in this Manifesto for Counties which can improve outcomes and drive down costs, particularly in adult social care, children’s services, SEND and home to school transport.    

Foundation 3

Localising & Devolving

Local government is at the heart of every community.

It provides the services that people rely on, the housing and infrastructure that builds communities, and the support to local business that can drive national prosperity.      

The new government must maintain a presumption of ‘local first’, ensuring that those services currently delivered by county and unitary authorities remain under their remit and are enabled to thrive.

Crucially, it must continue with an ambitious programme of English devolution. As the proposals contained in this Manifesto for Counties show, this should build on the progress made in recent years, transferring more powers and resources from Whitehall directly to county authorities and the communities they serve.

Foundation 4

Tackling Climate Change

Mitigating and adapting to climate change and delivering net zero is one of the biggest challenges of our generation.

As local place-leaders, councils are already working tirelessly to reduce their carbon footprint and encourage behaviour change.

However, as the proposals across this Manifesto for Counties show, tackling climate change will require a long-term strategic approach, supported by policies tailored to local needs.    

The new government must move away from an overly-city focused approach and work in partnership with local government across the country to deliver place-based solutions that respond to the challenges they face and opportunities delivering net-zero present. 

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Policy Proposals: Overview

Local Government Finance

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Delivering a long-term sustainable funding settlement at the Spending Review.
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Reviewing relative need and resources, and reforming local government finance.
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Reviewing council tax freedoms and flexibilities, while reforming incentive-based funding.
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Supporting sector-led improvement, while reviewing the role and responsibilities of the Office for Local Government.
Read our full proposals
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Adult Services & Health

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A long-term sustainable funding settlement, distributed according to today’s needs.
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Immediately prioritise improving outcomes and reducing costs in working age adult provision.
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Keeping adult social care a local service, while progressing system reform.
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Improving the retention and recruitment of care workers.
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Reforming Integrated Care Systems and optimising the model of hospital discharge to improve patient flow.
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A proportionate and fully funded approach to inspection and regulation.
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Maintaining a prevention focused, local system of public health services.
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Putting housing at the centre of social care reform.  
Read our full proposals
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Children's Services & SEND

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Investing in and reforming children’s social care services.
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Bringing home to school transport duties into the 21st century.
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Tackling high cost placements and reforming the market.
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Delivering a more sustainable and fair approach to SEND travel services.
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Ensuring that local authorities are funded properly to fulfil their statutory duties, and constraints are taken into account by regulators.
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Understanding the impact of planned and future reforms to extend free childcare hours.
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Reforming and rebalancing the SEND system to make it more sustainable and improve outcomes.
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Enhancing the role and powers of councils in the local education system.
Read our full proposals
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Devolution & Local Growth

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Maintaining counties as the building blocks of non-metropolitan devolution.
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Addressing the imbalances in regional investment and removing competitive bidding processes.
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Extending and deepening devolved economic powers, freedoms and flexibilities in county areas.
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Empowering upper-tier authorities to realise their economic potential and revive local economies.
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A national framework and criteria for any reform of councils’ structures.
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Giving councils the tools to deliver green growth and attract private investment.
Read our full proposals
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Housing, Infrastructure & Transport

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Providing stability in the planning system, alongside the reintroduction of strategic planning at the county scale.
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Reforming the existing system of developer contributions to achieve an infrastructure-first approach.  
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Supporting the delivery of housing across all tenures & tackling homelessness.
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Powers and funding to revive county bus networks, while supporting on-demand services.
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Improving standards and rights in private and social renting.
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Supporting the comprehensive roll out of electric vehicle and active-travel infrastructure in rural areas.
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Ensuring a sustainable and fair waste system that works for all.
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New powers for councils to improve local roads and intervene with utility companies.
Read our full proposals
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