Normally, LGA Conference - the biggest gathering of local government every year - is in July, guaranteeing lively days and balmy evenings (usually!). However, an unexpected General Election led to cancellation and rescheduling, which is always tricky. However, in my opinion, a good decision. The weather was better than expected for October, as was attendance - and of course after a change of government, we needed the opportunity to reconvene as a sector to consider and contemplate what next... so to Harrogate we went last week.
For me, as the previous year, I had responsibility for the Innovation Zone due to my chairmanship of the innovation and Improvement Board - officially opening the IZ and then chairing the first session, a really great session about care leavers. I was back again the following morning for an extremely well attended session on the role of the LGA's Corporate Peer Challenge in driving improvement. My concern about the likelihood of decent numbers for an 8.35am slot were quickly dismissed. The IZ was as popular as ever, with a great selection of topics once again covering the vast array of services we as a sector provide.
My other role, as deputy leader of the LGA Conservative Group, also kept me busy, with 3 group meetings across the week, including co-chairing a session with the Party Chairman. However, the highlight for me was our group plenary on the main stage, a bit of a Q&A alongside some of my favourite colleagues, all driven by reflections from newly minted LGA Vice President and all round local government legend Gary, Lord Porter of Spalding.
Somewhere in between, I squeezed in panels for Localis and JCB, as well as dinners and receptions, and yes the obligatory disco. Having moved the conference back in the year, we do now have just 9 months until the next one, so those initial opening comments by the new government will have developed into fully formed policies by next summer when we come back together in Liverpool. For now though we have a consultation on virtual meetings, a move around the standards regime, and some good indications around what the imminent Devolution White Paper might hold...
