Working with Localis at the 2016 party conferences

Author: Jack Airey   |  

Working with Localis at the 2016 party conferences

After another successful year at the party conferences last year, we are now looking for partners to work with us at this year’s conference season. You can read further about our offer either in our conference brochure or below.

Our offer at the party conferences

With this year’s conference season coming after a turbulent EU referendum and both main parties in combative mood, it promises to be one of the most engaging in recent years. Ministers and Shadow Ministers will be looking to use the conference as a key platform to stake out their policy positions for the parliament, while backbenchers unburdened by office and local councillors will be keen to shape their parties’ ideological futures.

As usual Localis will be delivering a full programme of wide-ranging events for which we are currently seeking sponsorship. Our expertise, experience and extensive networks in national and local government policy circles allow us to provide a comprehensive conference offer to potential partners with a track record of success. By partnering with Localis you can expect to:

  • Help shape an important public policy debate
  • Speak alongside leading national and local government figures
  • Network with key stakeholders
  • Feature in all our conference publicity materials
    (including promotional literature distributed at
    each conference; invitations e-mailed to our extensive network; and, promotion on our website, social media and newsletter)

Our events in 2015

2015 was another successful year for Localis at the party conferences in Brighton and Manchester. All our events were well-attended and featured a wide range of speakers including Ministers, Mayors and other prominent local and national political leaders. Event highlights included:

  • Devolution revolution: can cities and counties defuse the healthcare time bomb? – At Conservative party conference we hosted a fringe event considering healthcare devolution. With standing room only, the event was chaired by Michael White (associate editor of the Guardian) and with guests including Tony Lloyd (interim mayor of Greater Manchester), Stephen Dorrell (former Health Secretary) and Cllr Izzi Seccombe (leader of Warwickshire County Council).
  • Who’s going to build the Northern Powerhouse? – At both Labour and Conservative party conferences we hosted two private invite-only roundtables which considered the role that local government pension funds could play in providing infrastructure investment. Guests across the two events included noted local government figures such as Cllr John Clancy (leader of Birmingham City Council) and senior MPs such as Bob Neill.
  • Will a more localised health and social care system deliver better outcomes for the most vulnerable? – At Labour party conference we hosted a private invite-only dinner roundtable on healthcare devolution. Held in a high-end restaurant, guests included Tony Lloyd (interim mayor of Greater Manchester) and senior representatives from ten other Labour city councils.
  • How can the planning system deliver the housing and other development Britain needs? – At both Labour and Conservative party conferences we hosted two private inviteonly roundtables on the future of the planning system. Guests included Clive Betts (chair of CLG Select Committee) and Cllr Colin Noble (leader of Suffolk County Council).
  • Localis Annual Members’ Dinner – With Guest of Honour Greg Clark (Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government) and high-profile local government leaders such as Lord Gary Porter, we hosted our private invite-only Annual Members’ Dinner at a top hotel.

Planning for 2016

Some of the key policy areas that we are interested in focusing on this year include:

  • Local health
  • Stabilising the social care sector
  • Getting more houses built
  • Getting more social housing built
  • Reform of the planning system
  • Preparing for business rates devolution
  • Where next for devolution and to whom?
  • How to catalyse local economic growth
  • Public land
  • Funding regeneration in an age of austerity
  • Utilities and infrastructure
  • Addressing the skills gap(s)

Contact

To discuss possible options please contact jack.airey@localis.org.uk or call 020 7340 2660.