The County Council Network (CCN) has welcomed the appointment of James Brokenshire as communities secretary. Brokenshire replaces Sajid Javid, who has served in the role since July 2016, and takes over Amber Rudd as home secretary. Paul Carter, chairman of the CCN, said: “We worked closely with James during his time as immigration minister in 2014; I very much look forward to working with him again over the coming years. James is well equipped to manage the large and complex local government agenda ahead.” Carter added: “James Brokenshire inherits a major agenda ahead as part of his new local government brief — the fair funding review, housing and planning, the social care green paper, and increased business rate retention. Major decisions will need to be made, in short order, not least the outcome of the needs-led fair funding review. It is important we keep up the momentum, continuing to position counties as the local authorities that can offer solutions to the government’s significant domestic issues.”
