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
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.
Vice-president, Lawyers in Local Government
Paul Turner is the vice-president of Lawyers in Local Government (LLG) and serves as the director of legal and assurance and the monitoring officer at Essex County Council. With over 30 years of experience in local government, he has worked across various councils, from Greater Manchester and Northumberland to Cambridgeshire, Essex and Suffolk. His experience spans councils of all sizes, from districts with populations of 31,000 to large counties that serve 1.5 million residents. Since 2001, Paul has held the monitoring officer, bringing extensive legal governance and assurance expertise. He has also played a key leadership role within LLG, serving as chair of the Eastern Branch for three years and previously holding the position of regional director for the Eastern region.