I would like to offer my warmest congratulations to Ian Hudspeth, the former Leader of Oxfordshire County Council and lately Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, who was recognised in the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours list by being made an OBE.
While Ian is no longer a councillor, I am delighted that his dedication and hard work has been rewarded.
During his service in local government, he went above and beyond to support his local community and contributed towards positive change, especially in the areas of adult social care and public health, which over the past year were a huge challenge because of the pandemic. I wish him all the best for the future.
“This is an opportunity to get together virtually, share best practice, and hear from top-class speakers”
On another matter, as you may already know, the LGA’s virtual annual conference takes place next week (6-8 July).
This showpiece event for local government is an opportunity to get together virtually, share best practice, and hear from top-class speakers, including Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Scientific Adviser; Building Safety Minister Lord Stephen Greenhalgh; Professor Sir Michael Marmot, who led the 2010 review of health inequalities; and Dame Rachel De Souza DBE, Children’s Commissioner for England.
I am particularly excited to welcome Robert Jenrick MP, our Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, to conference on 6 July.
While largely a cross-party event, there will also be time for us to meet at conference as a Conservative family in group sessions to discuss key topics, such as planning and adult social care, among ourselves and with guest speakers.
I am pleased to inform you that Luke Hall, Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government, and Chris Pincher, Minister for Housing, are also among our guest speakers.
I would strongly encourage you to make every effort to attend both our group AGM on 6 July, and the Conservative group meetings on 7 and 8 July. If you have not already registered, please visit www.local.gov.uk/conference to book your free place.
I am looking forward to seeing many of you virtually at the LGA conference.