Members’ Update October 2023

• 2nd Oct 2023

The Party Conference season began with the Lib Dem Conference in Bournemouth last week. We had an excellent response from delegates who were particularly interested in community asset transfer and Community Wealth Building. We look forward to announcing new Members in the coming months.

Councillor Louise Gittins

Chair of CCIN
Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council

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We’ll be exhibiting at the Labour Party Conference next week in Liverpool, before meeting up in Sunderland for our Annual Conference on 1st and 2nd November.

Last month, we welcomed Lewes, Warrington, Hounslow and ManchesterCouncils as Full Members.  We also welcomed Two Generations CIC as an Affiliate Member, and are delighted to promote one of their forthcoming events in this edition.  That brings the total number of members and supporters to 144. 

Some barriers to developing the cooperative economy will be the same across the country, and others will be specific to a particular area.  We are fortunate to have councils in the Network leading the way in developing the cooperative economy and overcoming some of these challenges.  Wherever we are located, we seek to create more equitable economies for our local communities so everyone can grow and prosper.  To this end, we have and are funding, several Policy Labs looking at some of these barriers. I am delighted that there will be plenty of opportunity at our Annual Conference in Sunderland to learn more.
 
This month’s blog is from John Copps at Mutual Ventures, who explains how adult social care’s future must be grounded in cooperative principles and the bond between local people and place.
 
Our Annual Conference is fast-approaching. Members receive FREE places at this year’s event in Sunderland—do book now! 
 
Finally, we’d like to thank Cllr Cathy Scott, Leader of Kirklees Council and Cllr Kelly Middleton, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Public Health and Well-being, Equalities and Partnerships at Telford & Wrekin, who have joined our Executive Oversight Committee. Thanks also to Cllr David Darkin, Leader of Llanelli Town Council, who joined the Values & Principles Board.
 
I hope that you enjoy this issue of Update.

Best wishes

Louise