ABOUT
2 December 2021 — 09.00 - 16.30
Sponsors: BHIB Councils Insurance, Blachere Illumination and CCLA
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives, our communities and our country in so many ways. As a vital part of local government, local (parish and town) councils stepped up and responded to the crisis and supported their communities and residents. Being at the centre of community effort has further cemented their role in providing local leadership. It is why local councils are pivotal to building back stronger and better and shaping thriving, resilient future communities.
This one-day online conference will be your chance to hear from high-profile experts and leading figures from local and central government and national organisations. You will have the opportunity to discuss and debate the key issues facing your communities, network and share good practices with fellow councillors, clerks and council staff from across England, and connect with sector-specific suppliers in our innovative online exhibition.
PROGRAMME
Plenary one: Inspiring communities
The COVID-19 pandemic has exhausted our communities and depleted resources at every level of local government. But how do we inspire communities to work with local government bodies sustainably? Hear how from new LGA President and former paralympic gold medallist Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, DBE DL.
Speaker: Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, DBE DL, president of the Local Government Association
Plenary two: Levelling up, through speaking up
Understanding local concerns is key to driving change in our communities. By learning from complaints and mistakes we strengthen public trust and enhance the administrative processes that underpin our ambitions. So, is it time for local councils to benefit from the public accountability and feedback that the Ombudsman provides elsewhere?
Speaker: Michael King, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
Plenary three: Local councils looking forward
Hear from the most famous person in the local council sector, Jackie Weaver, and her views about the importance of local councils to our communities. Hear Jackie’s amazing journey over the last 18 months and why we should all look forward.
Speaker: Jackie Weaver, chief officer at the Cheshire Association of Local Councils
Plenary four: The continuing importance of standards in public life
This plenary session will give you a full overview of the current standards and civility agenda for local government. Hear how accountability in any area of public life, is critical.
Speaker: Lord Jonathan Evans, chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life
Plenary five: Local councils levelling up
This plenary session will promote and examine the way in which local councils can engage with their principal authorities as needed to take on more services and assets in their areas in the context of the likely publication of the devolution white paper over coming weeks.
Speaker: Cllr Sue Baxter, former-chair of the National Association of Local Councils (NALC)
Workshop A: Creating sustainable communities using neighbourhood plans
ONeill Homer will tell two recent stories of how a town in Wiltshire and villages in Oxfordshire and Hampshire have used their neighbourhood plans to improve the sustainability of their settlements in the face of high environmental constraints. They will facilitate a round table discussion with local councillors from Marlborough Town Council, Brightwell-cum-Sotwell Parish Council and Burghclere Parish Councils, who are each the respective chairs of their neighbourhood plan projects. They will tell their stories, highlighting the challenges faced and the lessons to be learned for others preparing plans. This will then be followed by a question and answer session.
Speakers: Cllr Richard Carrow, Burghclere Parish Council, Cllr Celia Collett MBE, Brightwell-cum-Sotwell Parish Council, Cllr Mervyn Hall BSc CEng MIEE, Marlborough Town Council and Neil Homer, founder and director, ONeill Homer
Workshop B: Young people
This workshop will showcase good practice in encouraging young people to stand for and vote in elections. Discover great tips about how to engage with young people on issues they care about.
Speaker: Daniel Lawes, founder and chair of Youth Politics UK
Workshop C: The Parish Digital Communication Revolution: from social media, virtual events and websites to accessibility and strategy
Good communication is vital to ensure that everyone can access information and services and have their voice heard. When it comes to parish and town councils, digital communication has never been so important as part of a council's overall communications mix. The last 20 months have shown that using social media, websites, virtual events, and other forms of digital communication are all effective ways to get a message out, present information to a broad audience and build a strategic, two-way conversation inclusively. Council communication and compliance experts, Breakthrough Communications and web and accessibility experts, Aubergine, will provide a practical session. Exploring ways in which local (parish and town) councils of all sizes can develop a communication strategy, leverage the power of digital tools and platforms to meet regulatory communication requirements and build and sustain a digital conversation with their communities. All whilst remaining both accessible and inclusive.
Speakers: Daniel Purchese, director at Breakthrough Communications and Mark Tomkins, creative director at Aubergine
Workshop D: Building communities
This workshop session will share valuable tips in engaging with your community during the planning process, with a particular focus on rural areas. Hear how communication is vital in all planning issues helping to shape and build thriving communities.
Speakers: Martin Hamilton, director, Leeds Civic Trust and Civic Voice Trustee, Cllr Andrew Irwin, chair of Tangmere Parish Council, Andrew Taylor, group planning director and Ellen Timmins, associate planning director, Countryside Properties, and Jonathan Werran, chief executive of Localis
Workshop E: Encouraging community-led action in coming together
Eden Project Communities believes in the power of community, the power of people collectively doing things to improve their lives, and the lives of others around them. Their focus is on encouraging community-led action which they feel is key to the success and the sustainability of community projects. They believe that grassroots action, informal networks and volunteering are vital in the prevention of social issues as well as the key to rebuilding society and supporting communities. This practical session from The Big Lunch Team will explore different ways in which local (parish and town) councils of all sizes can encourage and support residents to come together, get to know each other better and take collective action.
Speakers: Sonia Hearld, former Burn Parish Councillor, Malin Joneleit, senior public affairs officer, Surrey County Council, Cllr Andrea Phillipson, Burn Parish Council, Tracey Robbins, head of UK delivery at Eden Project Communities and Jack Addams-Rimmer, neighbourhood development officer at Dunstable Town Council
SPONSORS
BHIB Council Insurance
BHIB Councils Insurance is part of BHIB Insurance Brokers, one of the UK’s leading independent commercial insurance brokers with a proud history dating back over 50 years. BHIB has delivered bespoke insurance programmes and advice to the public, private and charity sectors and membership organisations during this time. With local councils providing an ever-growing range of services, it is more important than ever to have sector experts you can rely on and be partnered with to provide insurance and risk management advice to ensure you have the right knowledge and protection for your council and the community you represent. BHIB Councils Insurance is partnered with the UK's largest insurer, Aviva, to provide a tailor-made, bespoke insurance policy for local councils. This, coupled with their own specialist risk manager, can provide risk management support, advice, and training, meaning they can respond to all your needs.
Blachere Illumination
Blachere Illumination will transform your town centre’s winter and festive lighting with the perfect scheme to meet your budget. As the world’s leading manufacturer and supplier of winter and architectural lighting, they take care of everything from design to installation and dismantling and even offer a hire service.