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President's Update

This blog page features updates from ADEPT's President, Ann Carruthers.

Latest post

President update 31st March - latest news from ADEPT

Hello everyone,

Spring has finally arrived and with it comes a fresh wave of activity and progress. 

I attended the National Flood Resilience Forum chaired by Minister Emma Hardy, focusing on enhancing flood resilience across the UK. I also participated in the MHCLG Local Government Funding Reform Strategy group, where we discussed the upcoming business rates consultation and funding changes planned for April 2026. 

March also saw the Interchange event in Manchester, where I delivered a keynote speech and participated in a roundtable with National Highways. I received the annual update from the Canal & River Trust; and I had the pleasure of chairing a joint ADEPT / CIWEM webinar on adaptation and resilience. It was also brilliant to meet the 14th cohort of the Leadership Development Programme too. What an enthusiastic lot they were.

Onto ADEPT updates – I really enjoyed the Live Labs 2 Expo 2025 in Liverpool. The engagement and collaboration demonstrated throughout the event was really positive and showcased real, tangible progress in decarbonising UK highways, with innovative presentations from SMEs and key sector specialists. I loved the “silent” presentations, nearly as good as a silent disco!

If you weren't able to join us, don't worry - there's another opportunity coming soon through the online Live Labs 2 Mini Expo on 30th April. It will be a way to meet, discuss and contribute to the Live Labs 2 programme, helping to share learnings so far and set out priorities for the year ahead. Find out more here.

ADEPT provided comment on the Spring Statement last week, where we again called for more comprehensive support for local government and critical infrastructure. 

I am keen that we support members as local government grapples with local government reorganisation and devolution. Please do register here to attend our 1st webinar on LGR (4th April) and here to attend the 2nd webinar on Devolution (1st May). The secretariat will be running webinars on specific issues going forward.

As we look ahead to late spring, I'd like to remind everyone that bookings are now open for the ADEPT Spring Conference and Annual Awards Dinner on 22nd May. This year's theme, 'Resilience in Place,' couldn't be more timely, with sessions covering economic, environmental and human resilience. It's an excellent opportunity to connect with colleagues, share achievements, and explore innovative approaches to the challenges we're facing. Don't forget to book your place now!

For more updates on ADEPT's latest news, publications, and the work of our boards and groups, visit our website: www.adeptnet.org.uk

More posts

  • President update 3rd March - latest news from ADEPT

    Hello everyone,

    I don’t know about you, but February has flown by! This month has been packed with developments across several key areas.

    At our leadership team meeting, we received an important update from the LGA, focusing on devolution and local government reorganisation, highlighting the challenges of managing both simultaneously. Sonika Sidhu, Deputy Director for Place at the LGA, will be attending future discussions as they develop their own support offer, which we are keen to complement for ADEPT members.

    Read more >

  • President update 3rd February - latest news from ADEPT

    Hello everyone,

    Gosh, a month into 2025 already but didn’t January feel like a very long (and busy!) month? 

    We recently had a really productive meeting with the joint presidents’ of ADASS, ADCS and ADPH plus the LGA. Together, we are preparing a joint pre-spending review submission to highlight the vital link between place based services, people services and health. It’s helpful too that ADEPT has a seat on MHCLG’s local government funding reform strategic group.

    Read more >

  • President update 6th January - latest news from ADEPT

    Hello everyone, Happy New Year! As we step into 2025, I'm really optimistic about the potential ahead of us. This new year brings important work and exciting opportunities for ADEPT and our members. Despite the challenges, our collaborative spirit and commitment to creating better places remains stronger than ever.

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  • President update 1st December - latest news from ADEPT

    Hello everyone,

    It's been another busy month for ADEPT, with our Autumn Conference taking centre stage, along with numerous meetings and strategic discussions. 

    Our collaborative approach continues to be a strength. Hannah and I had a positive meeting with the new LGA chair, Louise Gittens, who is keen to engage. I attended the CIHT's launch of a critical policy report on highways resilience and adaptation to severe weather - a topic that increasingly demands our attention.

    Read more >

  • President update 1st August - latest news from ADEPT

    Hello everyone! 

    Can you believe we are already well into summer? The weather hasn’t always been ideal this year, but let’s hope we have a longer warm spell throughout August, so that we can all get out and enjoy our wealth of beautiful natural spaces.

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  • President update 1st July - latest news from ADEPT

    Hello everyone! 

    As we move into July, I wanted to touch on some important updates and upcoming events for ADEPT. 

    Firstly, with the general election on the 4th of July, we are gearing up to ensure that our sector’s needs are well understood by the incoming government. We’re committed to working closely with the new government to advocate for the interests of place and our Manifesto for Stronger Places will guide this work. 

    Read more >

  • President update 3rd June - latest news from ADEPT

    Hello everyone! I’m thrilled to share my very first update as the new President of ADEPT. 

    The ADEPT Spring Conference and President Awards Dinner on 16th of May gave us all a chance to recognise and celebrate the work of partners across the country. I received a warm welcome as Anthony Payne handed over the Presidential chain of office and I was delighted to see and talk to so many partners and colleagues.  I had a great day and evening, hope you did too if you were there. 

    Read more >

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