This is my final column before I pass on the baton as chair of the District Councils' Network to North Kesteven DC's leader Cllr Richard Wright. It's been my privilege to represent our district and unitary council members over the past four years. However, this has been a politically and financially turbulent period that has challenged everyone in local government.
Amid the turmoil, we've had significant successes. Districts' campaigning was a key factor in winning greater ability for councils to set planning fees that reflect the cost of running the service. It also helped bring about the much-needed increase in the Local Housing Allowance. But many of our other successes have come from standing up to things that never should have been contemplated in the first place.
