Monday 22 September – Buckingham Room, Brighton Metropole Hotel, 1.00pm – 2.00pm

Is Localism the Way to Better Public Services?

NLGN has long been at the forefront of key policy debates about decentralisation of public services. Building on this, the focus in now turning to issues of choice and flexibility within local services, and how they might be tailored to suit both individuals and communities alike, and the broader question ‘Is localism the way to better public services?’

Speakers:
Chris Huhne MEP
Cllr Mark Hunter, Leader, Stockport Metopolitan Borough Council
Dan Corry, Director, NLGN
Chair: Sally Hamwee, Greater London Assembly

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Tuesday 23 September – Seasons Suite, Belgrave Hotel, 6.15pm – 7.30pm
NLGN in association with Vertex

Can e-Government really Transform Public Services in Local Government?
With the 2005 target closing in, most debate around local e-government is focused on what councils need to do to make the grade. Some are jumping though the minimum number of hoops; others see IT as providing a range of opportunities to rethink established practice. How can we get more of the latter and less of the former? More profoundly, as government rests many of its hopes on radically improving our public services, to what extent can e-government deliver locally? And can it help rescue local government from its low esteem amongst citizens?

Speakers:

Richard Allan MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on the Cabinet and IT
Dr Andrew Larner, Director of the Local Government Information House, IDeA
Cllr David Tutt, Deputy Leader, Eastbourne Borough Council

Andy Hunt, Director, Vertex

Chair: Warren Hatter, Head of Research, NLGN

Tuesday 30 September – Clifton Suite, Hermitage Hotel, Exeter Road (opposite BIC), 1.00pm – 2.00pm
NLGN in association with Vertex

Can e-Government really Transform Public Services in Local Government?
With the 2005 target closing in, most debate around local e-government is focused on what councils need to do to make the grade. Some are jumping though the minimum number of hoops; others see IT as providing a range of opportunities to rethink established practice. How can we get more of the latter and less of the former? More profoundly, as government rests many of its hopes on radically improving our public services, to what extent can e-government deliver locally? And can it help rescue local government from its low esteem amongst citizens?

Speakers:
Douglas Alexander MP, Deputy Cabinet Office Minister
Dr Andrew Larner, Director of the Government Information House, IDeA
Cllr Hazel Harding, Leader, Lancashire County Council

Richard Busby, Public Sector Director, Vertex

Chair: Warren Hatter, Head of Research, NLGN

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Tuesday 30 September – Bournemouth International Hotel, 1.00pm – 2.00pm
NLGN & The Smith Institute

Local Government’s role in Growing the Economy
NLGN’s advocacy of ‘new localism’ and a recent Smith Institute pamphlet by Ed Balls and John Healey MP have both contributed heavily towards new thinking on local economic development. This fringe event aims to identify the winning characteristics of well-performing councils and the crucial elements that engender successful and dynamic leadership.

Speakers:
John Healey MP, Treasury Minister
Professor Gerry Stoker, Chair, New Local Government Network
Cllr Sir Jeremy Beecham, Chair, Local Government Association

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Tuesday 30 September – Keble Suite, Hermitage Hotel, Exeter Road (opposite BIC), 5.45pm – 7.00pm
NLGN in association with Catalyst

Is Localism the Way to Better Public Services?

NLGN has long been at the forefront of key policy debates about decentralisation of public services. Building on this, the focus in now turning to issues of choice and flexibility within local services, and how they might be tailored to suit both individuals and communities alike, and the broader question ‘Is localism the way to better public services?’

Speakers:

Rt. Hon. Peter Hain MP, Leader of Commons
Roy Hattersley, Chair, Catalyst
Cllr Ann John, Leader, London Borough of Brent
Heather Wakefield, National Secretary for Local Government, UNISON

Chair: Dan Corry, Director, NLGN

Wednesday 8 October, Beaufort Room, Hilton Blackpool, 6.15pm-7.30pm
NLGN in association with Vertex

Can e-Government really Transform Public Services in Local Government?
With the 2005 target closing in, most debate around local e-government is focused on what councils need to do to make the grade. Some are jumping though the minimum number of hoops; others see IT as providing a range of opportunities to rethink established practice. How can we get more of the latter and less of the former? More profoundly, as government rests many of its hopes on radically improving our public services, to what extent can e-government deliver locally? And can it help rescue local government from its low esteem amongst citizens?

Speakers:

Eric Pickles MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Local Government and the Regions
Cllr Simon Milton, Leader, Westminster City Council
Dr Andrew Larner, Director of the Local Government Information House, IDeA

Tom Drury, Managing Director, Vertex

Chair: Dan Corry, Director, NLGN