I'm not a big believer in New Year's Resolutions, though I do try and start the way I hope to carry on - and a quick look back at my diary shows that if I carry on like this, it's going to be a busy year...
It's always a privilege to be invited into a council as part of the work the Local Government Association (LGA) do, and I've learnt so much this month from time spent in both the London Borough of Westminster and Southampton City Council. It's not just an opportunity to share your insights, but also to spent time deep within what local government does, and I always come home empowered.
My role on the LGA Board, and other responsibilities, mean I spend time regularly in London, and it always takes me breathe away walking into the Houses of Parliament. The start of the year sees a flurry of events, and I've joined events for UKREiiF and the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) for their Star Awards - it was a delight to be asked to be part of the judging panel for Council of the Year. There's some fantastic work going on out there!
I was also asked to join several meetings about the current Government consultation on the local government code of conduct, at both the Ministry of Housing, Local Government and Communities, as well as with the Committee for Standards in Public Life.
Whilst the LGA is cross-party, I've also attended some great Conservative events so far in 2025 too, including opening the LGA Conservative Group Leaders' College in Milton Keynes, and the Conservative Councillors Association Local Government Conference in Oxfordshire. There's always something to learn...
