Unlock the strategies your council can employ to support national campaigns to enhance behaviours.
It's no secret that without robust sanctions, local government at every level faces an uphill battle against the declining standards of behaviour. Yet, it's a moral imperative to strive to reverse this tide.
This event will glean insights from professionals across central and local government on why and how civility and respect can be improved across local governments in the future. Discover why this seemingly stubborn battle is still worth fighting for.
Unlock the strategies your parish or town council can employ to support national campaigns to enhance behaviours during council meetings. Learn practical measures that parish and town councils can implement to drive positive change.
Sponsors: Blachere Illumination, CCLA and Clear Councils Insurance
NB: NALC reserves the right to change the programme at any time.
Chair, Local Government Association Civility in Public Life Steering Group
Chief executive officer, Lawyers in Local Government
Deborah Evans is responsible for driving forward the strategic ambitions of the Lawyers in Local Government (LLG), working closely with the board to design the best possible service for the lawyers who make up the membership. She assists in setting the strategy whilst leading the team to deliver the organisation's goals within an agreed budget to ensure tangible value for money for local authorities. Collaborating with others across the sector, Deborah strives for regional and national influence on key policy items through improved visibility and an ambitious policy and campaign agenda. Since she was appointed LLG’s first chief executive officer in 2018, Deborah has steered the organisation's transformation to one with strong levels of membership engagement with a vibrant online knowledge, training and conference programme. In 2021, Deborah led the launch of the first national work experience week for law students in local authorities across the country, with a plan to repeat this annually, complemented by a national graduate recruitment scheme in 2023.
Interim chief executive officer, Jo Cox Foundation
Will Fletcher joined the Jo Cox Foundation in November 2021 as head of operations and finance and was appointed interim chief executive officer in September 2024. He’s previously worked for various charities in the youth, education, and LGBTQ+ sectors, undertaking a range of roles that have led him to work in charity operations. Will is a serial volunteer with a keen interest in governance. He is a governor at his local secondary school and the chair of Derbyshire Mind. He lives in Derbyshire with his husband and their two dogs, where he is a parish and district councillor.
Chair, Local Government Association Civility in Public Life Steering Group
Cllr Marianne Overton MBE serves on Lincolnshire County Council and North Kesteven District Council, where she sits on the Planning Committee. She is the independent leader in both authorities and is particularly active in environmental issues, health and social care, and education. Marianne's education was spread between South Africa and London. She served as a non-executive director for NHS Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust and a governor of the University of Lincoln. She is a qualified biologist, a past chair of the Society of Biology (East Midlands), and a fellow of the University of Lincoln. She is very active in Lincolnshire, supporting businesses and communities. Her contribution to local government was recognised with a Queen's New Year's Honour in 2014 and the award of an MBE. Marianne was first elected as leader of the Local Government Assocaition Independent Group in June 2011.