News

To celebrate Solace’s 50th anniversary, we are delighted to launch the first of three reports to be released this year.

Entitled ‘Rewind’, this first report explores how the role of the council chief executive has evolved over the last five decades. Comprised of nearly 20 articles written by distinguished former chief executives, including a number of past Solace Presidents and Chairs, and a foreword by Sir Michael Lyons, this report not only looks back but forwards too. Themes covered include: responding to major incidents and emergency responses, creating cohesive communities, place shaping, devolution, local government finance, as well as challenging issues relating to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Solace President Matt Prosser said: “This is a fascinating and incredibly compelling collection of articles in which the contributors reflect on their own careers and the events that shaped them, as well as their leadership styles and how all of that has impacted on their successors too.

“Whether you’re an aspiring, current, or former local authority leader, an interested observer, a local government history geek, or anything in between I’d urge you to pick up this fascinating report. There is, as ever, much we can all learn from the knowledge shared by those who have come before us and I have no doubt that these invaluable insights, helpful reflections, and powerful prompts will provide plenty of learnings for us all.”

To read the report in full, click this link.

Later this year, Solace will also publish its ‘Play’ and ‘Fast Forward’ reports which, in turn, will explore the present and the future of local government.

Notes to editors:

About Solace

Solace is the UK’s leading membership network for public sector and local government professionals. We currently represent more than 1,600 members across the UK, and have regional branches across the country which play host to a number of events such as regional development days, skills days and networking opportunities.

It’s creation first mooted in 1962, before urban and rural town clerks came together in to one society, Solace’s official formation eventually ran concurrently with local government reorganisation in 1974.