I received the same letter other chief executives did across the UK, informing us that the Government intends to roll out the Universal Credit programme to all Jobcentres and local authorities. The letter also said that the local support framework has been rebranded to 'universal support - delivered locally'. This announcement follows the Scottish referendum, which will initiate devo max. It has also initiated the scramble to consider how powers could be devolved across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.As a district chief executive, it was interesting to read the County Councils Network's document, Our Plan for Government 2015-20, which promoted its proposition to take the lead in co-ordinating the future combining of public services.This dialogue leads us to believe change is in the air with the common agenda of transformation, devolvement and localisation of combined services. The District Councils Network is also working to add value to the dialogue and highlight the strengths that districts bring in relation to added-value joined-up and shared services within a complex multi-agency environment.
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