Inverclyde Council has joined a UK-wide network of like-minded local authorities, organisations, and individuals aimed at innovating and improving public service delivery.

The council has become the latest addition to the Co-Operative Councils Innovation Network.

It is a collaboration between local authorities that are committed to finding better ways of working for, and with, local people for the benefit of their local community.

The non-party-political network allows members to work together on areas such as policy development, innovation, and advocacy.

It also provides a national voice for cooperative councils, informed by real experience and practice, with the aim of drawing on, influencing, and framing national policy and political debates about the future of public services, local democracy, and communities across the country.

Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council, said: “We are an ambitious council, with a vision of ‘Getting it Right for Every Child, Citizen, and Community.

“Developing new and innovative ways of working is key to recovering strongly from the covid pandemic, working collaboratively with our communities and partners in these times of unprecedented challenge for all local authorities, not just those in Scotland.

“We decided to join the Co-Operative Councils Innovation Network because we recognised that its members shared our ambition, and the need to constructively challenge the status quo and refresh how local government can best provide its services.

“By joining this fast-growing network, we can also share the great work we have been doing and engage with and learn from other members. We are very much looking forward to working with the network.”

The network was established in 2012 by three councillors with the aim of ‘finding better ways of working for, and with local people for the benefit of their local community’.

The organisation comprises over 120 councils, organisations, and supporters from across the UK and member councils represent nearly 10 million citizens and hold an annual directly managed budget of around £17 billion.

For more information about the Co-Operative, Councils Innovation Network visit www.councils.coop.