The County Councils Network (CCN) has announced that the Reform UK Group is to nominate the new chair of the network.
A statement published today confirms that Reform UK now has the relative majority of the CCN constitution (35.3%), followed by the Liberal Democrats (22.5%), then the Conservatives (21.9%).
Following the CCN’s political proportionality update, Reform is now to work alongside the CCN to confirm the group’s nomination for the network’s chair, with Cllr Matthew Hicks remaining in the role until the decision is made.
The nominated councillor will then be made Chair-Elect ahead of the CCN’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on September 10, which will see the individual formally become the CCN Chair.
With the Green Party now having more than 5% of the weighted electorate in CCN member council areas, it is now eligible to separate from the Independent Group and form its own group on the network.
‘As a strong cross-party network, representing the interests of county and unitary authorities across England, the CCN will be working closely with, and supporting, all councillors and new administrations as they navigate their first few weeks’, the statement reads.
The news comes after the CCN published its new business plan yesterday, with the aim of increasing representation of member councils.
Check out: Reform UK: What Britain’s fastest rising party stands for.
