With the publication of the Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill we take another step on the path towards what the Government intends as the most profound reconfiguration of the sector in a generation. That means a rethink not just of structures and geographies, but of how we deliver services.
Inevitably, we get hung-up on the challenges and tensions generated by the process, but we should also take a moment to recognise that in the months since the publication of the Devolution White Paper, the response of the sector has been remarkable, highlighting the resilience of local authorities and their unwavering commitment to public service despite demanding timescales and a massive increase in workloads.
