Rachel's appointment gives county a national voice on town centres

Warwickshire's voice is now right at the heart of a national organisation designed to promote town centres following the appointment of Rachel Baconnet to the board of the Association of Town and City Management.

Rachel is team leader for town centres and tourism at Warwickshire County Council, which is the only county authority to be represented on the ATCM board. Having been appointed chair of the Midlands branch last December she was asked to join the national board in March.

Her appointment reflects not only her own work and energy on behalf of town centres in Warwickshire but also the sustained support of the county council as a whole for towns within its borders.

"Warwickshire County Council has long been regarded as an authority which takes a leading role in supporting town centres," Rachel said. "It is unique in its level of support for town centres and my appointment to the ATCM board is testament to that longstanding commitment.

"I was delighted to be asked to join the national board. It is a great compliment to Warwickshire and all the work that we have done to support town centres over a number of years. Joining the board means that I will be able to make our voice heard and contribute to the great work that the association does in lobbying central government on behalf of towns and cities."

Warwickshire County Council's enlightened approach to supporting town centres has brought the implementation of several successful initiatives. These include the introduction of Business Improvement Districts, for which Warwickshire took part in the national pilot scheme, and the formation of The Warwickshire Towns Network.

"Town centres are the economic and social hubs of communities so we are committed to doing everything we can to support them," said Rachel.

"We are proud to be a leading county authority in this field and very proud that our Warwickshire Towns Network programme won the ‘Partnership of the Year’ accolade, at the 2017 Association of Town and City Management Annual National Awards.

"It has been great to see businesses and business organisations really engage with the network and its message that towns can work together and support each other to the benefit of all."