The County Councils Network (CCN) has published its new Business Plan and Work Programme for 2026/27, setting out a clear vision for the organisation and reaffirming its role as the cross‑party national voice for England’s counties.
The plan is launched at a pivotal moment, following local elections across six member council areas, all of which have either changed political control or moved into no overall control, with new administrations now being formed.
Building on a refreshed corporate strategy and campaigning platform, the Business Plan sets out CCN’s priorities through to April 2027. It responds to the significant reforms facing county and unitary councils, while reflecting the rapid growth and changing profile of the network’s membership.
CCN members collectively represent areas home to 27 million residents, 12 million businesses, and contribute £760bn to England’s economy. Despite their scale and importance, counties often find themselves operating in a policy environment dominated by urban and city‑based priorities. CCN brings these shared challenges and opportunities together into a single, powerful voice—championing counties at the heart of national policymaking.
A central feature of the new Business Plan is the launch of CCN’s Stronger Counties, Stronger Communities campaign. The campaign is designed to act as a counterbalance to urban‑focused national decision‑making and to shine a spotlight on the unique complexity of county and unitary councils. Its aim is to ensure that upcoming reforms are fair, recognise the breadth of services counties deliver, and reflect their critical role in driving national prosperity.
Throughout 2026/27, CCN will continue to provide extensive support to its members, including bespoke briefings, regular meetings and webinars, and in‑depth research into the most pressing issues facing county and unitary authorities.
Alongside its ongoing advocacy on major challenges such as local government finance, adult social care, special educational needs and disabilities, and children’s services, the network’s work programme will increasingly reflect its growing unitary membership. This will include standing up for unitary councils and publishing analysis across a wider range of service areas, from homelessness to leisure centres.
County Councils Network Chief Executive, Simon Edwards, said:
“We would like to congratulate all newly-elected and returning councillors following last week’s county elections. New administrations will enter office at a time when there are significant reforms and changes happening in local government.
“Our priority in the coming weeks is to support councillors as they navigate what can be a challenging first few weeks in office. It is a great privilege to serve England’s counties, and the CCN will ensure members have the support they need to deliver for their residents.
“Our new business plan reinforces a clear message: we are the cross-party voice of England’s counties and non-metropolitan unitary authorities. We will be doubling down on our commitment to support and represent our members on the national stage, while broadening our advocacy across the full range of services they provide.”
The recent election results will also lead to changes in the political balance of the network and the composition of its executive positions. The updated political balance is currently being calculated and will be announced in the coming days.
Looking ahead, CCN will publish further materials next week to help newly elected councils and administrations navigate their first weeks in office, including an updated series of Policy Essentials.
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Video Credit: County Councils Network
