💬 "With the right investment choices from the Treasury, counties can be empowered to help deliver the growth that the country needs."

Ahead of the Budget, watch @BroadbentSb make a persuasive case for the Chancellor to invest in counties⤵️

➡️ Read more countycouncilsnetwork.org.uk/news/autumn-bu…

We are pleased to announce @MargaretMulhol2 @ASCL_UK as a keynote speaker at CCN Conference 2026!

She will offer valuable insights at a plenary that explores how schools and councils can work together to effectively deliver the Experts in Hand programme, as part of SEND reform.

We are delighted to have @AkashPaun from @instituteforgov joining us as a keynote speaker at CCN Conference 2026.

Ahead of the expected publication of the Rewiring the State 'delivery plan' in December, he will offer his insights into devolution in county and rural areas.

We are excited to announce @pollyn1 as one of our CCN Conference 2026 speakers!
 
She will provide a valuable perspective on the growing rural homeless crisis in counties.
 
Our research highlights that rural homelessness is becoming a 'deepening’ issue': countycouncilsnetwork.org.uk/news/children-…

We were encouraged to see the @OBR_UK highlight our recent research on councils' SEND deficits as an issue to watch in their financial forecasts.

Anything less than government paying down 90% of councils' deficits would be a 'financial catastrophe':

countycouncilsnetwork.org.uk/news/councils-…

Today the government has announced an update to the local government reorganisation programme.

Ministers have announced they are 'minded to' proceed with reorganisation in five county areas, with decisions on the remaining 15 two-tier county areas to be made in the coming months.

@seanmatthewsRUK responds to the announcement:

countycouncilsnetwork.org.uk/news/local-gov…

"We’ve got a commitment for devolution to go wider, now we need to ensure it goes deeper. This should mean that the county areas have access to powers and funds on par with urban mayors."

Coverage of our reaction to the Budget in @FT @seanmatthewsRUK ⤵️

ft.com/content/c16601…

The Budget announced several new county devolution deals, which could be transformative in unlocking growth.

But @seanmatthewsRUK warns that a lack of additional funding for county and unitary councils could impact the effectiveness of devolution⤵️
countycouncilsnetwork.org.uk/news/budget-20…

In the lead-up up to today's Budget, we've been making the case for county and rural unitary councils:

↪ Calling for a wider and deeper roll out of devolution, where there is local agreement

🚗 Arguing for investment to be prioritised to counties

🪙Highlighting the our lenges

➡️ Read all of our Budget advocacy: countycouncilsnetwork.org.uk/news

Watch @BroadbentSb outline our key asks of the Treasury below ⤵️

We are excited to announce @PJTheEconomist as a speaker at CCN Conference 2026!

He is one of most prominent economists in England and we expect to hear his view on the the country's financial outlook and the impact on council budgets.

Book your place: countycouncilsnetwork.org.uk/conference-and…

We are delighted that Baroness Louise Casey is attending CCN Conference 2026, where she will be speaking with @AlisonHoltBBC in a special ‘in conversation’ session.

CCN Conference 2026 takes place next month! Book the last remaining tickets here: countycouncilsnetwork.org.uk/conference-and…

Ahead of the Budget, @Telegraph analyses the effect of the Fair Funding Review for county and rural areas.

With the review distributing money away from county areas, @BroadbentSb and @WandFCouncil outline the impact this has had on their communities:

telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/2…

🗣️ "It is time to make county and rural areas part of the growth story."

Our new report with @GrantThorntonUK finds that had county economies grown at the national average, their output could have been £19bn higher in 2023.

Read the research: countycouncilsnetwork.org.uk/conference-and…

Read coverage of our new analysis which finds significant disparities in children's services funding in @DailyMail below.

Our finance spokesperson @BroadbentSb calls on government to provide more resources for county and rural unitary councils in next week's Budget ⤵️

"A child in need in a rural and county area is no less deserving than a child in a city."

Our analysis reveals counties receive a third of funding per child on average compared to metropolitan boroughs as @BroadbentSb calls for a rethink in the Budget:

countycouncilsnetwork.org.uk/news/rural-cou…

With the Autumn Budget two weeks away, our finance spokesperson @BroadbentSb makes the case for county and rural areas in @themjcouk ⬇️

We call for an increase in funding, greater investment in county infrastructure and for faster progress on devolution: themj.co.uk/autumn-budget-…

“Quite frankly, some councils are going to go bankrupt unless government steps in and introduces a proper package of measures.”

📻 @LeaderofKCC speaks to @R4WorldTonight on our new research which finds councils’ SEND deficits could reach £10bn in 2028, despite a recent bailout ad our research: countycouncilsnetwork.org.uk/news/councils-…

🚨 Despite government eradicating 90% of councils' SEND deficits to March 2026, our new survey reveals that they are not out of the woods.

Read @LeaderofKCC's warnings in @guardian as @CIPFA highlights the concerns of council finance officers⬇️

theguardian.com/education/2026…

"Anything less than paying down 90% of this new debt would be a financial catastrophe for councils."

Read coverage in @FT of our survey which finds SEND deficits are on course to reach a record £10bn in 2028 - despite a recent bailout. ⬇️

ft.com/content/e16cac…

Despite the government paying down councils' SEND deficits, our research shows that they are not out of the woods.

Deficits are re-accruing at record rates and we warn they could reach a 'catastrophic' £10bn.

@LeaderofKCC calls for government action ⬇️ countycouncilsnetwork.org.uk/news/councils-…