Members’ Update – October 2025

• 7th Oct 2025

We start this edition with some congratulations and thanks. September’s Cabinet Reshuffle saw our Founder Steve Reed OBE MP promoted to Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. Steve’s appointment puts cooperative values at the heart of Government, and we know that he will continue to speak up for those values in Cabinet. The same week, we were sad to see Jim McMahon OBE MP step down as Minister for Local Government. Jim continues to be a good friend of the Network, and as Chair of the Cooperative Party, we look forward to continuing to work with him and his team.

Councillor Jim Robbins

Chair of the CCIN
Leader Swindon Council

The Labour Party Conference in Liverpool last week was an ideal opportunity to showcase our Case Studies Pack. With 49 new case studies for 2025, these packs are very popular at our face-to-face events. Our stand was perfectly positioned near the doors of the main auditorium, allowing us to reconnect with many members. We thank everyone who stopped by.  Nicola Huckerby and I successfully secured the most lucrative conference merchandise from Steve Reed, with the #BuildBabyBuild hats!
 
Thank you to the six councils (Kirklees, Manchester, Oxford, Preston, Swindon and Wigan) that responded to the request to submit a joint response to the Cabinet Office’s consultation exercise on the Procurement Act 2023, thanks also to Mark Cook, at Anthony Collins who coordinated those efforts.
 
I’d also like to thank all the councils who joined me in signing the LGA’s open letter to the Government on permitted development rights.  Among the proposals Peers are considering is an amendment tabled by Baroness Thornhill, developed in close partnership with the LGA, that seeks to remove a range of permitted development rights (PDR). These rights currently allow existing buildings, including offices, to be converted to residential use without full planning permission – and, consequently, without the requirement to contribute to social housing.  We’ll keep you informed on progress. 
 
In this edition, we present the findings of the Cooperative and Mutual Economy Report 2025 published by Co-operatives UK. Among some of the highlights are that the sector’s value has increased by 5.5% to £179.2 billion, and the number of businesses has risen to 10,119. Read more below.
 
Finally, congratulations to Cllr Jacky Alty from South Ribble Borough Council who joins us on the Executive Oversight Committee.  Jacky has previously stood on our Values and Principles Board, and it’s good to see her return to the CCIN governance.
 
We start with the exciting news of the Government’s Pride in Place Programme.
 
I hope that you enjoy this edition of Update.

Best wishes

Jim