There was intense debate about the future role of councils at the Local Government Association conference in Manchester earlier this month. How can we improve the lot of local people and our communities when government funding continues to decrease? What really struck me during these debates was how often the ideas and innovations held up as models for the future are already happening right here in Staffordshire, for example:
- Health and social care integration was highlighted in the Chancellor’s recent spending review as a key way of improving the health and wellbeing of older people in particular, while delivering massive savings. We launched Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent NHS Partnership Trust 15 months ago, which remains the largest body of its kind in the country, offering a better system for those who rely on it, with more preventative, early-response work, and fewer hospital visits
- The District Deals we have struck with a number of our local district and borough councils to work together on growing our economies and creating more jobs for residents, linked to our bid for a City Deal. Local Government Minister Brandon Lewis was among those to praise the district deals during an event we organised at the LGA conference with our partners at Stoke-on-Trent City Council
- Last year we launched an Education Trust that brings councils, leading businesses and our colleges and universities together. It aims to make sure that training courses, apprenticeships and workplace training produce the skilled workers needed by local firms, in particular in advanced materials and manufacturing. To help us build on this work, Business Secretary Vince Cable announced at the LGA conference that Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent would be one of just three areas to pilot a new approach to skills and training, with financial incentives on offer.
I could give many more examples of areas where the County Council is increasingly seen as a national leader and innovator, in challenging times. This isn’t about giving ourselves a pat on the back – it is about recognising that we are delivering better outcomes for people in Staffordshire, and striving to give our residents every opportunity to prosper, be healthy and be happy. The challenges we face are not going to get any easier in the years to come, so collectively we need to continue the excellent work we are doing, at pace, to create a better future for Staffordshire and its people.