Day 1: Wednesday 10 July

This session will explore the advantages and challenges of further devolution as a means to solve the long-term funding crisis in local government. How do local governments get the certainty they need over the financial settlement, with the flexibility to make meaningful, agile decisions to benefit the circumstances of their local communities?

Speakers and more info

Keynote address and panel discussion: Can devolution solve the local government funding crisis?

09:20 - 10:30

Chairs:

Ben Hunte

Senior Reporter, VICE World News

Speakers:

Paul Kissack

Group Chief Executive, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF)

Break

10:30 - 11:05

Refreshments and networking in the exhibition hall

Keynote address: 2024 – a year that challenges democracy. How does the public sector respond to a crisis of trust, of increasing demand, global populism and increasing, inter-related shocks?

11:05 - 11:35

We are facing an increasing number of global inter-connected shocks to our political and economic systems and all too often it is the public sector that is left to pick up the pieces, delivering more with less, tackling corruption or ‘sleaze’ and dealing with an aging and shrinking workforce that we need to support to build both capacity and capability. This session explores these external trends, and how public sector organisations can keep their eyes on the core function of delivering for their communities in a time of political and economic turmoil.

Speakers and more info

Keynote address: 2024 – a year that challenges democracy. How does the public sector respond to a crisis of trust, of increasing demand, global populism and increasing, inter-related shocks?

11:05 - 11:35

Chairs:

Ben Hunte

Senior Reporter, VICE World News

Speakers:

Kelly Beaver

Chief Executive, Ipsos

Building resilience by prioritising preventative investment

11:35 - 12:20

There are an increasing number of voices calling for a re-think on how we shift the emphasis towards prevention. It will demand innovative solutions to consider how we can allocate existing resources more effectively to prevent ill-health. Not only is this good for the health of the population, but also for the stability of the economy, sustainability of our public services and the resilience of our communities. This session will provide some different perspectives on how this challenge could be met.

Speakers and more info

Building resilience by prioritising preventative investment

11:35 - 12:20

There are many factors which impact on our health. A healthy society relies on a solid foundation of essential ‘building blocks’ that include housing, employment, education and skills, transport, leisure and recreation, and many more. Ensuring these building blocks are in place is a key part of taking a more ‘upstream’ preventative approach for growth and development for all. There are an increasing number of voices calling for a re-think on how we shift the emphasis towards prevention. It will demand innovative solutions to consider how we can allocate existing resources more effectively to prevent ill-health. Not only is this good for the health of the population, but also for the stability of the economy, sustainability of our public services and the resilience of our communities. This session will provide some different perspectives on how this challenge could be met.

Chairs:

Ben Hunte

Senior Reporter, VICE World News

Speakers:

Polly Curtis

Chief Executive, Demos

Andrew Burns

Associate Director, CIPFA

David Finch

Assistant Director, The Health Foundation

Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt

Independent chair, NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board

Lunch Break

12:20 - 13:20

Lunch and networking in the exhibition hall

Blackpool Rock(s) – towards a brighter future

13:20 - 14:20

Labour and supply shortages, pay demands, inflation, rising interest rates and rising residential care costs are just some of the issues.

Hear from the Council team how, despite these challenges, Blackpool is towering above them to fulfil its motto of “Progress”.

Public Trust

Speakers and more info

Midlands Engine Partnership: Funding the Future

13:20 - 14:20

The Partnership is looking to leverage its scale to pursue a flagship financing vehicle to utilise private sector funding from pension funds and insurers to deliver net zero projects in both the private and public sector and, as the programme develops, to support economic development, regeneration, skills and infrastructure projects to grow the region’s economy and improve productivity.

Protecting Place and Planet

Speakers and more info

Building a strong diverse workforce

13:20 - 14:20

Session overview to be confirmed

Blackpool Rock(s) – towards a brighter future

13:20 - 14:20

Unprecedented volatility in council finances since 2010 with successive years of government cuts, Covid, leaving the EU and the use of outdated funding formulas has all conspired to produce a “perfect storm” for Blackpool Council and its residents. Labour and supply shortages, pay demands, inflation, rising interest rates and rising residential care costs are just some of the issues. Hear from the Council team how, despite these challenges, Blackpool is towering above them to fulfil its motto of “Progress”.

To better facilitate the important monitoring and decision making of a town with the complexities of Blackpool the Council has recently implemented a modern SaaS Enterprise Resource Planning solution to automate more processes, speed-up decision making and ultimately drive improvements which will deliver better services and value for local communities. This is aligned with other transformation and modernisation initiatives to create a thriving economy that supports a happy and healthy community. It is expected that this session will be “illuminating” for all delegates.

Speakers:

Cath Bagley

Head of Procurement & Exchequer Services, Blackpool Council

Mark Golden

Head of Accountancy (Deputy s151 Officer), Blackpool Council

Adam McKnight

Project Manager, Blackpool Council

Ian Owen

Industry Director, Public Sector, TechnologyOne

Steve Thompson BSc, CPFA, MBA

Director of Resources, Blackpool Council

Session to be announced

13:20 - 14:20

Session overview to be confirmed

Midlands Engine Partnership: Funding the Future

13:20 - 14:20

The Midlands Engine Partnership is an apolitical pan-regional partnership of local authorities, universities and businesses focused on driving inclusive and sustainable growth for the regional economy. The Partnership is a platform for economic, social and environmental change that benefits every single part of the Midlands. The Partnership is looking to leverage its scale to pursue a flagship financing vehicle to utilise private sector funding from pension funds and insurers to deliver net zero projects in both the private and public sector and, as the programme develops, to support economic development, regeneration, skills and infrastructure projects to grow the region’s economy and improve productivity.

Panellists who are actively driving the effort forwards will share their ambitious goals, challenges and successes in developing a robust response to the region’s economic and environmental challenges. Delegates will gain a unique insight into one of the most ambitious and exciting transformation programmes in the UK.

Culture, Climate Change and Corruption

14:30 - 15:30

In this panel session we will discuss how it is vital to have strong internal controls, adequate accountability mechanisms as well as suitable training to help reduce the risk of corruption linked to sustainability efforts.

Public Trust

Speakers and more info

Are you as resilient as you think you are?

14:30 - 15:30

We are all trying to build and maintain resilient and sustainable organisations to support the communities we serve. There are a number of elements that contribute to resilience and sustainability, underpinned by proper risk management and insurance provision. This session will discuss the role of risk and insurance, the consequences of underinvestment and lack of real understanding of risk profiles and the ultimate costs to organisational resilience. In a volatile world undergoing structural change from climate, technology and demographic forces, delegates will be asked to consider whether their risk and insurance architecture make them as resilient as they think they are.

Public Service Reform

Speakers and more info

Session to be announced

14:30 - 15:30

Session overview to be confirmed

Culture, Climate Change and Corruption

14:30 - 15:30

Climate change is seen as an existential issue, and as a result large amounts of public investment is needed to support much needed changes to global energy, industry, food, transport and building environmental systems. But what happens when special interest is changed into personal interest? For public sector organisations, it’s vital that support for anti-corruption programmes is prioritised now more than ever. In this panel session we will discuss how it is vital to have strong internal controls, adequate accountability mechanisms as well as suitable training to help reduce the risk of corruption linked to sustainability efforts.

Chairs:

Khalid Hamid

International Director, CIPFA

Are you as resilient as you think you are?

14:30 - 15:30

Now an increasing number of councils are embracing the Joint Venture Partnership model. This model, pioneered by Norse 20 years ago, is based on a combination of commercial knowhow and public service values – ethical commercialism.

Speakers:

Alix Bedford

Risk Proposition Manager, Zurich Municipal

Session to be announced

14:30 - 15:30

Session overview to be confirmed

Break

15:30 - 16:00

Refreshments and networking in the exhibition hall

How to achieve the maximum value from tech-enabled transformation

16:00 - 17:00

However, moving to the cloud is a once-in-a-generation project with many inherent risks underscored by the experience of failed projects within the public and private sectors. Careful preparation and the right approach are essential for successful adoption. Embracing new technologies like cloud computing can drive productivity and efficiency, leaving behind those who fail to adapt.

A profession for Today & Tomorrow

Speakers and more info

Are there any good savings left?

16:00 - 17:00

IMPOWER will highlight two client case studies to illustrate positive responses to these challenges:

Tameside MBC is actively taking a “good savings” approach and gaining real traction in the identification of £30m of such savings in this year's budget round by re-framing their approach and managing within complexity and uncertainty.

Derby City Council will share their story of financial turnaround within High Needs where finance played a key leadership role in the delivery of system-wide change that has markedly improved the financial trajectory because of better outcomes for children with SEND.

Public Trust

Speakers and more info

How to achieve the maximum value from tech-enabled transformation

16:00 - 17:00

The public sector is facing a world of competing concerns: political and funding uncertainty, budget pressures impacting financial sustainability, digital security risks, increasingly complex service demand pressures, staff retention and recruitment difficulties. Many Local Authorities find their existing ERP and Finance applications are approaching end of life and no longer supporting the changing landscape of the organisation. However, moving to the cloud is a once-in-a-generation project with many inherent risks underscored by the experience of failed projects within the public and private sectors. Careful preparation and the right approach are essential for successful adoption. Embracing new technologies like cloud computing can drive productivity and efficiency, leaving behind those who fail to adapt.

This session will cover Critical Success Factors for preparation and procurement, KPMG Powered Local Government – a fit-for-purpose solution for an "adopt not adapt" approach, Leeds City Council “Journey to the Cloud” story and foundations to deliver Whole Council Transformation.

Are there any good savings left?

16:00 - 17:00

The financial pressures facing the sector has left some authorities “cutting into the bone”, with negative impacts on outcomes for residents and the organisations. Whilst unavoidable for authorities in profound financial difficulty, but are opportunities for more positive savings being missed elsewhere? IMPOWER will highlight two client case studies to illustrate positive responses to these challenges: Tameside MBC is actively taking a “good savings” approach and gaining real traction in the identification of £30m of such savings in this year's budget round by re-framing their approach and managing within complexity and uncertainty. Derby City Council will share their story of financial turnaround within High Needs where finance played a key leadership role in the delivery of system-wide change that has markedly improved the financial trajectory because of better outcomes for children with SEND.

These organisations will share learning about what it takes to achieve “good savings” and build the ambition, confidence and capability to deliver.

Session to be announced

16:00 - 17:00

Session overview to be confirmed

Session to be announced

16:00 - 17:00

Session overview to be confirmed

Closing keynote address: The role of sustainability in delivering growth for the public sector and local economies and Chair's closing remarks

17:10 - 18:00

Change requires difficult decisions to be made across green finance, green budgeting and innovations which put sustainability at the heart of decision making about public money. Government targets for net zero (that may or may not be ‘long-grassed’), sustainability reporting and stimulus for growth are all issues that public financial management leaders are grappling with. We take the politics out of the practicalities of protecting our communities.

Speakers and more info

Closing keynote address: The role of sustainability in delivering growth for the public sector and local economies and Chair's closing remarks

17:10 - 18:00

Sustainability to protect people, place and planet is not a ‘nice to have’ in our public services. It is crucial to deliver for the future, but it is also a tremendous opportunity for efficiencies and growth for both businesses and the public sector. Particularly if they work together. Change requires difficult decisions to be made across green finance, green budgeting and innovations which put sustainability at the heart of decision making about public money. Government targets for net zero (that may or may not be ‘long-grassed’), sustainability reporting and stimulus for growth are all issues that public financial management leaders are grappling with. We take the politics out of the practicalities of protecting our communities.

Chairs:

Ben Hunte

Senior Reporter, VICE World News

Speakers:

Simon Chinn

Vice President, Research & Advisory Services, Urban Land Institute