President update - latest news from ADEPT – October 2024
Hello everyone,
Summer now feels like a distant memory and autumn is well and truly here! September has been an interesting month for ADEPT with a number of new developments and opportunities to update you on.
In September we published a new housing policy paper, which calls on the government to equip local authorities with the tools and resources needed to tackle the housing crisis – you can read the paper here. We have also published a new Resources and Waste policy position here.
Hannah and I had a useful catch up with Stephen Jones at Core Cities, where we identified a number of areas of mutual interest. We also had an update call with DfT, which focused on the forthcoming budget, devolution and bus policy. I also chaired the annual Midlands Highways Alliance conference, where Hannah gave an update on the Gen Z recruitment campaign – MHA is one of the funders for the pilot.
ADEPT’s work engaging with the new government is continuing: we are writing to MPs to arrange meetings that will build our profile and position us as the provider of objective facts from the frontline, as the authoritative voice of the deliverers and the do-ers.
At the recent Leadership Team meeting, Jo Wall updated us on Local Partnerships’ work on how local government could enable delivery of the Labour Party manifesto commitments. Kamal Panchal from the Local Government Association (LGA) discussed simplifying and flexibly managing transport funding, while Eve Roodhouse outlined the LGA’s evolving role and funding needs. Carolyn McKenzie presented an overview of the Local Environmental Improvement Plan framework.
We’ve also published the agenda for the forthcoming ADEPT Autumn Conference – speakers will include Tony Juniper CBE, Chair of Natural England, Helen Avery from the Green Finance Institute and James Prestwich from the Chartered Institute of Housing. This year's theme is 'Creating places fit for the future: our past, our present, our future’ and the event will be held at the Marriott Royal Hotel in Bristol on the 21st and 22nd of November. You can find out more and book your place here.
As always, for more updates on ADEPT's latest news, publications, and the work of our boards and groups, visit our website: www.adeptnet.org.uk
