Building lasting futures locally
Exploring the biggest challenges and opportunities facing local government, the LGA’s annual conference and exhibition brings together around 1,600 delegates from across the sector for three days of policy debate, innovation and networking.
We are back in Bournemouth this year, from 7-9 July, and I’m looking forward to catching up with friends and colleagues, and sharing our experiences, good practice and lessons learned from another busy year for councils.
Since last year’s event in Liverpool, we have seen the launch of the 10 Year Health Plan for England and the Council Housebuilding Support Service, the first multi-year local government funding settlement in a decade, and the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act.
The LGA has successfully lobbied for significant additional funding for prevention and reform across children’s services, special educational needs provision (SEND), homelessness and rough sleeping, and for the write-off of 90 per cent of historic high-needs SEND deficits.
We have led the way on influencing major pieces of legislation and policy, from SEND and the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act, to devolution and vapes.
But the LGA’s annual conference is about looking ahead, not just reflecting on the past; it provides some vital head space away from the day job to think constructively about the future.
The conference theme, ‘From neighbourhoods to nations – building lasting futures locally’, runs through the entire conference and Innovation Zone programme, showcasing how local action drives national impact, from neighbourhood services and community leadership to devolution, growth and public service reform.
Councils at the forefront of innovative thought and practice will be showcasing their projects in the conference’s ever-vibrant, creative and interactive Innovation Zone – fuelled by free, professionally brewed coffee, courtesy of Newton, the zone’s sponsor.
And in a series of conference plenaries, workshops and fringe meetings, delegates will be asked to consider some of the big questions facing us all – how do we reform adult social care, tackle the housing crisis, keep more families together, empower local economies, build cohesive communities, deliver devolution, unlock rural potential, and lead in an age of artificial intelligence?
For example, with Baroness Louise Casey, Chair of the Independent Commission on Adult Social Care, due to address conference, we will be showcasing the findings of our ‘Care where we live’ engagement programme, which has captured hundreds of views from across local government on the role the sector should play in a reformed adult social care system.
As we build towards Baroness Casey’s first report, the LGA’s engagement has a strong role to play in shaping the commission’s thinking.
With local government navigating a period of profound change, the LGA has also been doing some forward-thinking on behalf of the sector via its LG Horizons programme
Demographic shifts, technological disruption, devolution, fiscal pressures and rising expectations from communities are reshaping what councils do, how they operate and who they serve.
Through ‘LG 2040: The State of Things to Come’, the LGA has worked with the non-profit consultancy School of International Futures and design agency Futurall to map the key forces shaping local government over the next 15 years, drawing on insight from across and beyond the sector.
We will be sharing the findings of that work at conference, introducing the emerging themes that describe the landscape councils may be operating in by 2040 and exploring how different drivers of change interact to create new pressures and possibilities.
The findings draw on ‘hopeful’ futures developed with practitioners and partners to explore what thriving councils, stronger partnerships and better outcomes for communities could look like – and the choices the sector needs to make now to shape its own future.
Conference is also a time for renewing political and personal friendships and networks, and for farewells and welcomes.
Following the arrival last year of Reform UK as our fifth political group at the LGA, this year we will be welcoming a sixth – the LGA’s Green Group, and its first Leader, Cllr Emily O’Brien.
I am standing down as LGA Chair, and General Assembly will be voting on Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, who has been nominated by the LGA Labour Group to succeed me.
We will, of course, be meeting in Bournemouth as nominations open for a new leader of the Labour Party – and consequently a new Prime Minister.
On behalf of our members, the LGA has engaged effectively with ministers and across departments in the current administration, and this gives us a strong foundation upon which to continue to make the case for local government.
Throughout my time as Chair, the LGA and the wider local government sector have worked constructively together through significant challenges and reforms, including local government reorganisation and the Fair Funding Review, as well as ensuring councils’ voices were heard at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.
These and many other moments over the past year have together exemplified the LGA’s unique strength and core tradition – that we speak more powerfully as one collective voice for all councils, regardless of their party, region or tier.
I know that this unity of purpose, backed by the expertise of colleagues, stands the LGA in good stead in supporting members to navigate the opportunities and challenges of the future.
See you in Bournemouth…
The LGA’s annual conference kicks off in Bournemouth from 7-9 July, with a host of speakers from across local and national government, other public services, business and the third sector, addressing around 1,600 delegates.
It’s not too late to book your place. You can also download the conference app via the App Store or Google Play (search for ‘LGA events’) and follow events on social media using #LGAconf26, or online by visiting local.gov.uk.
As first was going to press, this year’s conference speakers included:
- Steve Reed OBE MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
- Sir James Cleverly TD VR MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
- Baroness Louise Casey DBE CB, Chair, Independent Commission on Adult Social Care
- Suella Braverman KC MP, Reform UK Spokesperson for Education, Skills and Equality
- Zöe Franklin MP, Liberal Democrat Local Government Spokesperson
- Luke Rodgers BEM, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, The Care Leaders
- Zack Polanski, Leader, The Green Party
- James Murray MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
- Lord Victor Adebowale CBE, Chair of the NHS Alliance
- Jonathan Smith, London Fire Commissioner
- Alison McGovern MP, Minister for Local Government and Homelessness
- Josh MacAlister MP, Minister for Children and Families
- Katie White OBE MP, Minister for Climate, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and Co-chair, Local Net Zero Delivery Group
- Baroness Jacqui Smith, Minister for Skills
- Paul Bristow, Mayor, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority
- Dame Sarah Healey DCB CVO, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
- Sam Jones, Permanent Secretary, Department of Health and Social Care
- Nigel Keohane, Head of Strategy, Test, Learn and Grow Programme, Cabinet Office
- David Phillips, Associate Director, Institute for Fiscal Studies
- Emma Squire CBE, Co-Chief Executive, Historic England
- Alison Crofton, Chief Regional Delivery Officer, Homes England
- Baroness Sharon Taylor, Lords Minister for Housing and Local Government
- Nesil Caliskan MP, Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities
- Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor of London for Housing and Residential Development, Greater London Authority
- Kelly Fowler, Chief Executive, Belong