At our recent annual conference APSE hosted a panel session joined by colleagues from the Northern Ireland Local Government Association, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), the Welsh Local Government Association and the Local Government Association, reflecting the four UK administrative areas. It is clear similarities exist and there is much learning to do between us all.
While some English councils face uncertainty in future structures, in other parts of the UK reorganisation, and devolution, are already embedded. Honesty about legacy issues raised eyebrows but also positives. Cumberland, for example, is the first UK council to make care experience a protected characteristic. A policy developed under the shadow authority, implemented under the new unitary council and a true example of policy into practice.
