President's Update

This blog page features updates from ADEPT's President, Ann Carruthers.

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President update 1st May - latest news from ADEPT

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. 

This month Hannah and I had a useful catch up with the chair of the London Environment Directors Network (LEDNet). Many of you attended our Local Government Reorganisation webinar, with speakers from several new unitary councils giving their reflections. Our webinar on becoming a combined /strategic authority will take place later in May. In addition, we are planning subject-specific webinars – keep an eye on the ADEPT website for details. 

It was brilliant to attend the Live Labs 2 Westminster event on 23rd April and to hear the DfT Minister Lilian Greenwood speaking so positively about the Live Lab projects. We also launched a highways decarbonisation stakeholder pledge at the event. This pledge aims to unite the industry in accelerating decarbonisation, moving from discussion to actionable commitments with the potential to shape long-term transformation. We hope you will sign the pledge: to find out more see here.

The Live Labs 2 programme has published its groundbreaking Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) report, which explores how behavioural change can significantly accelerate decarbonisation across local roads. The report highlights that while there's no quick fix, solutions like reducing competitive bidding for funds, creating strategic spatial plans and establishing expertise hubs can make a real difference. You can read the report here.

Last chance to book! The ADEPT Spring Conference and Annual Awards Dinner is just around the corner on 22nd May and the deadline for booking is 7th May. This year's theme, 'Resilience in Place,' will feature sessions covering economic, environmental and human resilience. Places are filling up quickly, so book your place now! 

At the Spring Conference, I will be handing over the Presidential chain of office to Angela Jones. I have no doubt she will be an exceptional President who will continue to drive ADEPT forwards.

I would like to thank all my colleagues, partners and ADEPT members for their support during my presidency. It has been a really productive year filled with many accomplishments for the organisation - I wish Angela all the best as she embarks on her journey for the year 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

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More posts

  • President's update: 8th April

    As we move into the 3rd week of lockdown across England, I have to say how proud I am of how ADEPT members and local authorities are responding to this exceptional time of crisis. Our members continue to provide the essential universal services on which we all depend, while tracking impacts and planning for the inevitable changes to provision as Covid-19 continues to take hold.

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  • President's update: 31st March

    The word unprecedented has been used time and time again in recent weeks, but there really is no other way of describing the pace and scale of the challenge to the country and the world caused by Covid-19.

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  • President's Blog: February 2020 - What next for local authorities after Brexit?

    I write this as the UK formally starts our exit from the EU. No matter your view on this moment in history, undoubtedly there will be significant consequences and opportunities for local authorities and our wider sector to grow our places. 

    As the new government develops the details of its policy agenda, there are two areas where ADEPT will need to make sure its voice is heard – future funding and devolution.

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  • Can we plant our way out of the climate emergency? Guest blog by 1st Vice President Nigel Riglar

    I’m having an afternoon trying to work out if we can plant our way to carbon neutrality by 2030. It’s a question Place Directors are asking themselves. I’ve been bouncing ideas around with Tom MacMillan from the Royal Agricultural University (RAU). It’s not straightforward. Let us explain.

    If you look out of your window you can probably see a patch of grass. If you can’t then imagine a football pitch.

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  • Reflections on the ADEPT Autumn Conference

    Since returning home from last week’s ADEPT Autumn Conference in Bath, I’ve been reflecting on some of the key themes, not just from our speakers and panel discussions, but in conversations with members and delegates throughout the two days.

    We are all so incredibly busy, balancing the demands of service delivery with long term planning, that taking a couple of days away can feel like a big ask. However, taking the time to think, listen, reflect and learn makes such a big difference, and I know following this many of us go back to our organisations with new ideas and connections.

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