‘Re:Imagining the Local State’ full-day conference

English Local Government has been plunged into a dramatic era of change. Strategic Authorities are to be rolled out across every part of the country and structural reorganisation is mandated for every remaining ‘two-tier’ area. Reforms to the local finance model are being implemented and streamlined ‘integrated settlements’ are being given to a growing group of Combined Authorities.  

In the midst of the most comprehensive programme of reform for decades, significant opportunities emerge – as do risks. The democratic deficit could be made worse by a new, larger-scale two-tier system – or addressed as that system becomes more transparent and more committed to neighbourhood working. The enormous promise of place-based public service reform could be baked-in to new structures as they are established – or be left as an afterthought.  

The third annual Reimagining the Local State conference will explore this era of change, and to look ahead to the longer-term challenges that the sector still faces.  

Keynote addresses:

• Steve Rotheram, Mayor of Liverpool City Region

• Sir Richard Leese CBE, Chair, Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board and the former Leader, Manchester City Council

Panel one: ‘Transformed councils, revolutionised services’.

This panel will explore how councils can harness innovation to transform local government amid rapid structural change, rising demand, and shifting public service models — embedding new practices and partnerships to thrive in the years ahead. This panel is kindly supported by Beam.

Speakers:

• Liam Robinson, Leader, Liverpool City Council
• Robin Tuddenham, Chief Executive, Calerdale Council and President, Solace
• Rachel Astall, Chief Customer Officer, Beam
• More speakers to be announced

Panel two: ‘Democratising Devolution: Can devolution bridge the democratic deficit?’ 

Join us to explore how devolution might not only reshape formal governance but also create the conditions for a deeper renewal of democratic participation. This panel is kindly supported by Carnegie UK.

Speakers:

• Cllr Matthew Brown, Leader, Preston City Council and Senior Fellow, Democracy Collaboratuce
• Irenie Ekkeshis, Co-Founder and Director, The New Citizen Project
• Adam Lang, Director of Policy, Insight and Advocacy, Carnegie UK
• Heather Jameson, Editor, The Municipal Journal

This conference will be held in Liverpool. If you would like to attend, please sign up here.