Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Aire Suite, Royal Armouries 15:45–16:25 Roundtable Local Government Reorganisation: Practical Advice and Support Speaker/s Simon Allsop B.Com, CPFA, Managing Consultant, CIPFA John O’Halloran, Director of Consultancy, CIPFA Let’s be honest: Local Government Reorganisation isn’t easy. But done right, it can lead to stronger, more sustainable services for your communities. In this session, CIPFA will offer practical tools and guidance to help you navigate the financial side of reorganisation. You’ll get a first look at the new CIPFA financial template – developed to bring consistency, clarity, and confidence to your proposals. Whether you’re deep in the middle of structural change or just starting to scope the options, this session will show you how to make your financial case clearly and credibly. You’ll hear how the framework, co-designed with F3 Consultancy, supports transparency, helps uncover hidden costs and savings, and provides the evidence base central government wants to see. This session is for you if you want to drive local government reform that’s not just politically viable, but financially sound too. Takeaways Understand how CIPFA’s new financial template can support your reorganisation business case Learn how to present cost/saving data in a way that builds confidence with stakeholders and government Explore real-world examples of how councils are approaching financial planning through reform Take home practical guidance you can apply immediately in your own local context Delivered by

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Main Stage, New Dock Hall 12:15–13:15 Panel International Perspective Chair Kirsty Wark, Speaker, Award-Winning Journalist and Presenter Speaker/s Michael Land, City Manager of Coppell, Texas, and President-Elect of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Brenda Orchard, President of CAMA and Chief Administrative Officer, Lennox and Addington County, Ontario, Canada Craig Swift-McNair, General Manager, Woollahra Council, Sydney, Australia Following on from the morning’s discussion on Equity and Purpose, this session widens the frame to explore how local government leaders across the world are navigating similar challenges and opportunities. Our international guests will share insights from North America and Australia — from embedding equity and inclusion in local systems, to building organisational cultures that foster trust, purpose, and innovation. Together, we’ll look at how different governance models, community expectations, and leadership approaches are shaping more resilient, responsive, and equitable public services. This is a chance to reflect on what connects us globally as leaders, learn from alternative perspectives, and consider how international practice can inspire meaningful change at home.

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 City Square 08:30–10:15 Walking Study Tour Leeds South Bank Regeneration A tour of South Bank’s flagship developments including Aire Park and Points Cross, taking in transformational major mixed-use schemes, connectivity improvements, affordable housing and public realm projects. With the opportunity to explore the potential for infrastructure-led economic growth in this strategically located part of the city.

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Hall A, Royal Armouries 15:00–15:40 Workshop Cross-party Working Against a Backdrop of No Overall Control Speaker/s Kathryn Rees, Executive Director Corporate and Support Services, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council Vicki Bates, Assistant Director, Governance and Monitoring Officer, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council Session Outline and Objectives Running a council with no overall control isn’t just a challenge – it’s a daily balancing act. But in Stockport, it’s become a powerful catalyst for bold decisions, strong partnerships, and real transformation. In this session, Kathryn Rees lifts the lid on what it really takes to lead in such an environment. She’ll take you through the council’s pragmatic, mature approach to cross-party working – from the gritty governance and robust scrutiny, to the softer stuff like induction, communication and trust-building. You’ll learn how Stockport’s councillors and officers work together – across party lines – to make decisions that stick and get things done. The results speak for themselves: £1bn invested in the town centre, a thriving integrated Stockport Family model, and consistently resilient budgets. All achieved without a single party holding the reins. We’ll cover: What effective cross-party working looks like in real life How pre-decision scrutiny can improve outcomes, not delay them The structures and relationships that help area governance flourish Why the Leader–Chief Executive relationship is just one part of the story How consistent member engagement builds resilience and trust. This session isn’t theory. It’s practical, proven, and built from the ground up. Takeaways Learn how to lead effectively in a politically diverse council Understand the structures and behaviours that make cross-party working thrive See how a collaborative culture enables long-term transformation Take away ideas you can apply – whether you’re in overall control or not Delivered by

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Hall B, Royal Armouries 15:45–16:25 Workshop Delivering Together: How Local Authorities and Strategic Authorities Are Jointly Driving Place-Based Transformational Growth Chair Gareth Fairweather, Senior Leader, Urban and Regional, Arup Speaker/s Tom Stannard, Chief Executive, Manchester City Council, and Solace Policy Lead for Health & Social Care Ciara Graven, Consultant – Economics and Casemaking Team, Arup Amy Harhoff, Chief Executive, East Midlands Combined County Authority As the UK Government continues to strengthen devolution, Local Authorities (LAs) and Strategic Authorities (SAs) are being entrusted with greater powers and funding to drive regional growth. This breakout session, hosted by Arup, will convene senior decision-makers from Local and Strategic Authorities to explore how to build collaborative delivery-driven organisations and co-governance arrangements, capable of translating strategic ambitions into tangible outcomes. What we will cover Through a dynamic panel discussion and active audience engagement, participants will examine the practical steps needed to scale up delivery capabilities, foster collaborative partnerships, and align investment strategies with local priorities. Drawing on insights from the recent roundtables with the HM Government Darlington Economic Campus and Arup’s extensive work with local governments, the session will highlight the importance of evidence-led decision-making, strategic clarity, and organisational transformation in achieving successful outcomes from devolution. The conversation will be framed around the challenges and opportunities identified in the English Devolution White Paper, including the need to avoid devolution becoming mere delegation, empowering LAs and SAs to lead with purpose, build robust delivery cultures, and demonstrate real-world impact for communities - especially those that feel left behind. Participants will be encouraged to share their experiences, pose questions to the panel, and contribute to shaping a shared vision for successful collaboration pathways for LAs and SAs on their transformation journey to delivery-driven organisations. Takeaways Strategic Alignment for Impact Understand how LAs and SAs can define and communicate strategic priorities that resonate with local needs and national ambitions, ensuring investment decisions are outcome-focused and community-driven. Building Organisational Delivery Capability Explore approaches to scaling up delivery capability, including workforce development, cross-sector collaboration, and intentionally pursuing opportunities to align strategic infrastructure investments with efforts to drive place-based change. Collaborative Governance and Evidence-Led Planning Learn how to foster effective partnerships across government tiers and leverage data and evidence to inform investment planning, galvanise support, and demonstrate the tangible benefits of devolution. Delivered by

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Exhibition, New Dock Hall 13:15–14:15 Exhibition and Lunch

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Aire Suite, Royal Armouries 15:00–15:40 Workshop Investing in Place to Build Financial Resilience Speaker/s Kamal Patel, Partner in EY-Parthenon’s Infrastructure Advisory Practice, EY Marcus Richards, Partner in EY-Parthenon’s Infrastructure Advisory Practice, EY How can councils build long-term financial resilience through investment and regeneration? This roundtable will explore how public and private capital can be aligned to deliver growth, affordability, and inclusivity, whilst also strengthening financial resilience. It will draw from examples across the UK and globally, including housing, transport and other forms of social infrastructure. Discussion will cover the tools available to unlock regeneration, the attributes investors look for, and how funding reform and fiscal devolution could further strengthen local government financial sustainability. Delivered by

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Hotot Suite, Royal Armouries 15:45-16:25 Roundtable Test, Learn and Grow: How Do We Build a Movement? Chair Evelyn John, Managing Director, Inner Circle Consulting Speaker/s Lisa Smith, Director of Strategy, Performance and Partnerships, Liverpool City Council Andrew Ferrier, Chief Executive, Test Valley Borough Council Jonathan Clifton, Director of Strategy and Communications, Sheffield City Council The sessions offers an opportunity to hear about the flagship Test, Learn and Grow programme. You’ll hear practical insights directly from participants in this pioneering approach to public service reform alongside leads from Cabinet Office, explore how a ‘test and learn’ mindset can support system-wide improvement, and how we can build a wider ‘movement’ the bridges between places and central government and closes the gap between policy intent and delivery.

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Pearl Suite, Royal Armouries 15:45–16:25 Workshop Public Collaborations: What are they for? Who does all the work? How long do they last? And who really benefits? Speaker/s Ed Whiting OBE, Chief Executive, Leeds City Council Kersten England CBE, Chair, The Young Foundation; Director of Engagement, Bradford 2025 Dr Peter O’Brien, Executive Director, Yorkshire Universities Sarah Norman, Chief Executive, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, and Chair of the Yorkshire and Humber Councils’ Chief Executives’ Group Yorkshire Universities (YU) with its strategic partners, Yorkshire and Humber Councils (YHC), and the HYPERLINK Yorkshire and Humber Policy Engagement and Research Network (Y-PERN), will share their experiences of collaboration between Higher Education Institutions (HEI) and local and mayoral combined authorities (MCAs) to drill down on what and how these relations really add value for people, places, business, and to what end. Public authority leaders are currently faced with a myriad of complex problems and finite resources. Long-term institutional structures are being reconfigured, and unprecedented global and geopolitical forces are shaping and remaking government policy agendas. Navigating these norms requires a renewed commitment to work in tandem with people, communities and places to overcome specific challenges and to realise the benefits of new and emergent opportunities. Four years after the launch of the pioneering Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between YU and YHC, there is a renewed commitment to work in partnership, and to help champion a collective voice for Yorkshire. Local government is no stranger to navigating acute financial pressures, and the region’s universities now face similar resource constraints. However, it would be a false economy to retreat into sector isolationism at a time when civic partnerships are needed more than ever, despite collaboration being labour intensive and demanding. The first phase of collaboration between YU and YHC (2021 – 2025) has yielded substantial results: £10 million of national funding awarded by UK Research & Innovation has seen Y-PERN and the Yorkshire and Humber Policy Innovation Partnership (YPIP) deepening research partnerships across HEIs, MCAs, local authorities, communities, and the NHS, to activate collective knowledge and understanding. Nationally, the MoU is seen as an exemplar of good practice and it is playing a pivotal role in helping to utilise a further £20 million of investment from the National Institute for Health Research to tackle widening health inequalities in local places, as well as providing underpinning infrastructure support for the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission . However, behind the scenes, significant effort is required to bring such programmes and networks to fruition and for them to be successful and sustainable. And what about the ideas and initiatives that get away? Or the collaborations that do not take root, result in wasted time and effort, or should prosper but somehow do not? Join us to discuss: Real-life case studies of what has/has not worked and why. Insightful discussion on the benefits and resources needed for impactful collaboration. Place-based examples across a broad and diverse geographical region, with local places at differing stages of devolution, but working on common priorities. Delviered by

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Hall B, Royal Armouries 15:00–15:40 Workshop Life Safety First: Turning Risk into Assurance Speaker/s Lee Goodenough, Executive Director, Harmony Fire Lord Gary Porter, Political Leader and National Voice on Housing Safety Kevin Bolt MBA, Managing Director, Step-Change Management Eleanor Kelly, Former Chief Executive Session Outline and Objectives How do you save £20 million and shave six years off your building safety programme—without cutting corners? That’s exactly what Edinburgh Council achieved using the Life Safety First Framework : a board-level toolkit that turns unknown risk into full assurance, with resident safety at its core. In a post-Grenfell world, regulators, residents, and boards are demanding answers. Downgrades, budget chaos, and blind compliance are leaving councils exposed. And while AI and smart tech promise breakthroughs, without a solid safety framework they can create more confusion than clarity. This high-energy panel brings together: Lee Goodenough , CRO, who shaped the framework now transforming safety across the UK. Lord Gary Porter , political leader and national voice on housing safety. Takeaways A proven roadmap – how downgraded councils can restore credibility and regulatory confidence. Smarter investment – the £20m/6-year lesson: spending the right money on the right risks. Future-ready safety – why AI and smart tech only work when built on a strong, accurate analytical base. Come curious, leave equipped : this is not another policy talk—it’s a practical, regulator-aligned framework that could transform your council’s safety strategy, balance sheet, and reputation. Delivered by

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Bury Theatre, Royal Armouries 15:45–16:25 Workshop The Leader’s Mirror: Defining the Legacy You Leave Behind Speaker/s Averil Price, Solace Associate and Director, Avie Consultancy As a senior leader in local government, your impact extends far beyond day-to-day decision-making. The legacy you leave, whether through policies, leadership culture, or the development of future leaders, shapes communities for years to come. This interactive session on Legacy Coaching will help you define, articulate, and strengthen your professional and personal legacy while preparing for the next chapter of your career. A timely session with further local government reorganisation and devolution in England and a working group of elected leaders and chief executives looking to develop a clear vision and a set of proposals that can support a sustainable future for local government in Wales. This workshop will provide a structured and reflective space to consider: The achievements and influence you want to be remembered for. What steps you are considering next in your career and how to transition purposefully. How you can help your team prepare for their future too. Delivered by

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Main Stage, New Dock Hall 20:00–00:00 Summit Charity Dinner This evening’s dinner is held in support of our charity partners. Please donate to our GiveWheel page . Thank you. Dinner drinks kindly sponsored by Newtrality. Sponsored by Supporting