Speakers
Session
With the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 becoming law, this session cuts straight to what matters for parish and town councils. Have the government's ambitions for devolution translated into real power at the community level, or have opportunities been missed? We will hear from the minister responsible for this policy area as they reflect on what the legislation will mean in practice. Has devolution opened the door to new parish and town councils, or have alternative structures taken precedence? What does this shift mean for local influence, accountability and the future role of grassroots councils?
Baroness Taylor of Stevenage is a former politician and a life peer who has served as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing and Local Government and a Baroness in Waiting since July 2024. She was a member of Stevenage Borough Council in Hertfordshire from 1997 to 2024, and served as the leader of the council from 2006 to 2022.