What next for districts and devolution? This was a hot topic at both the recent District Councils’ Network (DCN) conference and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for District Councils at Westminster, where there was much discussion about how districts could work together to deliver services and boost growth across functional economic geographies that make sense to residents and businesses.

As I listened to both debates, I found myself reflecting that this is big in Japan. Last month I was privileged to join the Japan Study Tour 2020 run by the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR), exchanging ideas and practice with local government in Tokyo and Tsu City. How might turning Japanese aid our progress on devolution?