Despite Parliament being in recess for the Party Conference season, its been busy as a Minister travelling across the country. Hereโs what Iโve been up to this week 
๐๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ
I started up in Preston to meet with the district council, county council & combined authority leaders. We had a really useful discussion about the next steps for devolution in Lancashire and how we can make sure greater decision-making powers and resources are brought closer to the communities they serve.
๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐น ๐ก๐ฒ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ
I also had the opportunity to speak at the County Council Network AGM, discussing the role of county councils and the importance of giving local government the powers and resources it needs to deliver for communities. Thereโs a huge amount of change happening across local government and working closely with council leaders will be vital as we take forward our reform & devolution agenda.
๐๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐
I then headed to Southend to meet with the leaders across Essex to discuss their place on the Devolution Priority Programme. It was good to hear directly from local leaders about their ambitions and priorities, and how devolution can help give communities a stronger voice over the decisions that affect them.
๐๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐
Later, it was down to Brighton to meet leaders from across Sussex. We discussed their place on the Devolution Priority Programme and the opportunities that greater local decision-making can bring for communities across Sussex. The principle remains simple: decisions should be made as close as possible to the people they affect, with local leaders given the powers and responsibility to get on with the job.
๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก๐ผ. ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ก๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ต
I spent time working from No. 10 North in Manchester this week, bringing together work around government and the North. I attended in the National Economic Council meeting while there with the Prime Minister, looking at the wider economic priorities for the country and making sure the perspectives and priorities of communities across the North are part of those conversations.
๐๐จ-๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฒ
Weโve also begun the process of preparing for the departure of General Secretary Joe Fortune as he is due to take his new position at the Labour Party. He will be great for them as he was for us. As Chair of the Co-op Party Iโm working with the NEC to recruit for a new General Secretary in what is a hugely exciting time for our movement. Watch out next week for more information.
And this week weโve announced a fantastic ยฃ210m package of support for community ownership and cooperatives – which Iโll post about separately. A lot do work has gone into it and Iโm very excited by the potential it has!
Iโll be heading to Liverpool for this year’s Labour Party Conference, but before that I ended the week back in Oldham for advice surgeries, meeting with constituents and then local party members.
