Local government stands at a crossroads. With the government agenda set to widen and deepen devolution, along with public sector reform and continued budgetary pressures, the local government sector faces the biggest shake up in 50 years.

It will stretch the sector, intensify pressure on already creaking services and test our ability to offer the best outcomes for our residents. In contrast, the importance of place continues to be high on the government agenda whether it is housing, planning, economic growth, transport, net zero and environment, or skills.

The biggest challenge for local authorities will be maintaining capacity and capability. With ongoing and serious budget pressures on children and adult services, we need to ensure place services are adequately funded to deliver. This will create the right conditions to drive infrastructure investment, economic growth and regeneration and to support our communities and green places to thrive. It is therefore critical the right powers and funding are devolved to local authorities, to address local socio-economic disparities and improve local infrastructure.

These funding and capacity pressures are compounded by broader uncertainties. The political and economic shifts that result from global factors like COVID-19, Brexit, inflation and the ongoing international conflict are still playing out, with many commentators identifying an ongoing realignment of national politics. The local elections in May, for those who had them, saw a further erosion of traditional party politics in local government and a reflection of wider international unrest. The potential impacts of this highly political environment are particularly significant for local government in this time of generational change.

Against this backdrop of change and uncertainty, the key to unlocking the real power of devolution and local government reform is transformative service delivery and longer-term funding certainty. We also need to collaborate more extensively, more meaningfully and more effectively if we are to meet these challenges. Local authorities provide local leadership and understand what their places need but they cannot succeed alone. - This is why ADEPT’s focus this year is on how we influence, innovate and ensure inclusivity.

Delivering on these three priorities is crucial right now: it’s never been busier in the public sector. The opportunities to deliver real change in areas of responsibility covered by ADEPT members has never been greater, but neither have the risks of failing our communities. As we tackle these emerging challenges, we need new approaches, new partnerships and new delivery models.

The ADEPT Autumn Conference 2025 will focus on these complex and interrelated issues and – crucially - on the opportunities they present. Place directors are not alone in wanting real change from devolution and an end to the erosion of key services. Our communities, partners and sector colleagues share our priorities and will be vital collaborators in delivering real change and innovation.

The Conference provides the time and space for reflection and sharing of experiences as well as the opportunity to listen to exciting speakers with fresh ideas for shaping the future. This anniversary year provides the perfect opportunity to reflect on our long history of supporting place-based leadership, while preparing for the challenges ahead.

Place matters. It matters to government; it matters to our communities and to the people we serve. It matters to our people – our dedicated workforce who make it all happen.