“Running out of gas – is it too late to fix local government finances?”| Localis at party conferences | Bournemouth, Liberal Democrat | Manchester, Conservative | Liverpool, Labour
This year Localis will be holding events at the Liberal Democrat, Conservative and Labour Party Conferences to debate local government finance in partnership with The Norse Group, CIPFA and Public Finance magazine
“Running out of gas – is it too late to fix local public finances?”
The litany of local government financial failures – Slough, Thurrock, Woking – is only deepening. While failures of corporate governance, accountability and scrutiny have played a part in these separate calamities, the inherently broken system of our local government finances remains the ultimate culprit for encouraging the behaviours and mindsets.
The fear is that there may well be a longer tail of councils, that have been swept up into casino finances for the sake of keeping the show on the road or whose population and service pressures will make them financially unviable.
Our panel fringes will ask the uncomfortable home truths around local government finance and canvass views for reform.
Given the scale of the problem, could this not also be an opportunity to unleash the straitjacket and usher in an age of local fiscal freedoms that would help rid the UK of its unenviable reputation as far and away the most centralised tax system in the developed world? Indeed, could fiscal reform at local level enable top-performing councils to place renewed emphasis on innovation in delivering and financing high-quality and responsive public services?
Please join us to debate the future of local public finances.
Liberal Democrat Party Conference, Bournemouth:
Time and venue : Monday 25th September, from 8.00 a.m. to 9.00 a.m. Bournemouth Hilton, [Phoxtrott Room] BH2 5EL.
Speakers will include:
- Cllr Bridget Smith, leader, South Cambridgeshire District Council
- Cllr Chris White, leader, St Albans City & District Council
- Iain Murray, director of public financial management, CIPFA
- Justin Galliford, CEO, The Norse Group
- Chris Smith, editor, Public Finance magazine
- Jonathan Werran, chief executive, Localis (chair)
Conservative Party Conference, Manchester:
Time and venue: Monday 2nd October, from 9.00 to 10.00 a.m., Kimpton Clocktower, [Clocktower 1], Oxford Street, Manchester, M60 7HA
Speakers will include:
- Cllr Abi Brown, deputy leader, LGA Conservative Group
- Iain Murray, director of public financial management, CIPFA
- Justin Galliford, CEO, The Norse Group
- James Morris MP [Halesowen and Rowley Regis]
- Chris Smith, editor, Public Finance magazine
- Jonathan Werran, chief executive, Localis (chair)
Labour Party Conference, Liverpool:
Time and venue: Monday 9th October, from 9.00 to 10.00 a.m. , Hilton Liverpool City Centre, [Grace 1] 3 Thomas Steers Way , Liverpool , L1 8LW
Speaker will include
- Dame Meg Hillier MP, chair, Public Accounts Committee
- Cllr Stephanie Cryan, Member, Local Government Association’s Economy and Resources Board
- Iain Murray, director of public financial management, CIPFA
- Justin Galliford, CEO, The Norse Group
- Chris Smith, editor, Public Finance magazine
- Jonathan Werran, chief executive, Localis (chair)
Running out of gas – is it too late to fix local public finances?
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