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Principles met

  • Co-production

    We will develop systems that enable citizens to be equal partners in designing and commissioning public services and in determining the use of public resources.

  • Walking the talk

    As a membership organisation, we will make this statement of our principles operational by: • Co-operation among members: Our members work together to help each other implement our values, sharing experiences and learning. • Openness of membership: Full, Associate and Affiliate Membership is open to any qualifying Council, organisation or individual who shares our values and is committed to putting them into action. • Co-production of the Network’s work: Members help shape the Network’s work programme and the content of events and written products. • Action-focused: The network is a vehicle for helping councils translate co-operative values and principles into policy and practice. •Membership-based: The network is majority funded by modest membership subscriptions from its member Councils, Associates and Affiliates. •Non-party-political: Members share the belief that working co-operatively within and across communities holds the key to tackling today’s challenges.

The strongest asset any area has is its residents.  The strongest asset of any council is its workforce.  In early 2025 Cheshire West and Chester Council achieved Gold Standard accreditation against the Investors in People standard.  Investors in People (IIP) is the international industry standard for people management, testing organisations against a rigorous framework for best practice in the workplace. Only eight UK councils have achieved Gold standard.

The IIP assessor spoke to over 150 people who work for the Council and evaluated an online survey of over 1200 colleagues. These highlighted a range of consistently positive comments, including an understanding of the organisation’s values and priorities; a broad culture of transparency, co-production and support and leaders who empower their people to make a difference.  

“Your people agree you are a great employer!”  IIP report

 During 2023 the Council launched the ‘join the conversation’ to engage on refreshing the strategic plan for the borough. Alongside responses from over 1500 local people and groups there was a range of work to ensure that council colleagues had a voice and a sense of ownership of the final plan.

Over 400 colleagues were involved through workshops and discussion groups, the council’s online ‘participate now’ engagement platform and through comment postcards from colleagues that are not computer based. Colleagues shared their views about what priorities we need to focus on to further improve our organisation, communities and the local services we provide.

 

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