Principles met

  • We will explore ways for councils to act as a platform for helping the community to contribute to local outcomes, and to re-think the role of councillors as community connectors, brokers and leaders.
  • We will promote community-based approaches to economic development that focus on supporting the creation of jobs, social enterprises and other businesses and providing an environment for co-operative and mutual enterprises to thrive.
  • We will embrace innovation in how we work with local communities to drive positive change.
  • We will capture and ‘expand’ the experience and learning from individual projects and approaches in order to encourage broader application of co-operative principles within individual member Councils and across the Network.
  • We will support the development of a framework and criteria for social value, giving substance to the concept and supporting Councils with the tools to ensure better local social and economic outcomes.
  • In exploring new ways of meeting the priority needs of our communities we will encourage models, such as co-operatives and mutuals, which give greater influence and voice to staff and users. in designing and commissioning public services and in determining the use of public resources.
  • 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.

In July 2022, Newport Leisure Centre reopened following an eight-month environmental refit. The £1 million investment, part funded with £586,000 secured from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund, enabled the installation of an air source heat pump and thermal insulation at the Centre. The works also reduced the depth of the pool, to reduce water-heating costs, and installed new energy efficient LED lighting. 

Other works included the installation of internal cladding, essential maintenance to the swimming pool tank, pool surround, and water filtration and circulation systems, in addition to a complete internal re-decoration to the pool, spectator area, and changing rooms. 

The outcome of this work means the site will save 566,863 kWh a year (the same amount of energy typically used by 182 houses). In its first year re-open, the Centre has reduced gas consumption by 41% with a total yearly carbon saving of 84 tCO2e. 

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