President Update - July 2026 - latest news from ADEPT
It feels like my new role as ADEPT President is well and truly underway - here's the latest from a busy first full month.
I am pleased to report that we have now responded to the Government's announcement on new reporting requirements for local highway authorities. While welcoming the focus on transparency and long-term preventative maintenance, we highlighted that road condition reflects decades of underinvestment and that improvements will take time to be seen on the ground.
That said, we were delighted to see the new guidance recognise both the ADEPT Live Labs 2 Programme and Carbon Leadership Programme. If you’d like to find out more about these opportunities, you can sign up for the next CLP introductory webinar on 22nd July (register here) or attend one of the monthly Live Labs 2 triage sessions (register here).
We also responded to the MHCLG Secretary of State’s call for evidence in tackling profiteering in local public services. The response reflects the view from our members that, whilst most providers work constructively with local authorities, there are a number of structural market issues that can lead to poor value outcomes.
On the theme of my presidency around supporting place directors in developing the skills and capacity they need for the future, the first session of the 2026 PACE: The Place Leaders' Programme was held on Friday 18th June, at the Churchill War Rooms in London. This is a programme that I had the privilege of joining myself a few years ago, and one that I highly recommend to my fellow place directors. This is the fourth cohort of the programme, and we'll be posting regular blogs throughout the year, so please do keep an eye out for those.
I was also fortunate to join the annual Leadership Development Programme Alumni event took place on 30th June, which was attended by over 40 participants. The programme is now into its seventh year and has supported more than 200 participants on their leadership journeys – if you’d like to find out more about our leadership programmes, you can find details here.
Finally, planning is already underway for the Autumn Conference! This will take place on the 26th and 27th November at The Metropole Hotel, Brighton. The theme this year is Making Better Places for People - booking will be opening soon, so watch this space.
For more updates on ADEPT's latest news, publications, and the work of our boards and groups, visit our website: www.adeptnet.org.uk
