December 2020
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***
This conference will discuss the way forward for securing economic recovery in London and the South East in the wake of the COVID-19 epidemic.
Areas for discussion include priorities for:
- the London Transition Board - chaired by the Communities Secretary and the Mayor - in its mission of coordinating the process of the London economy reopening following lockdown
- development of an Economic Recovery Strategy for London, following a recent motion passed unanimously by the London Assembly
- the work of the London Recovery Board - announced by the Mayor to oversee the capital’s longer term economic and social recovery, and develop a strategy and plan for the recovery
Delegates will also assess the Board’s progress so far - including steps that have been taken to:
- reduce inequality
- revive local economies and high streets
- relieve pressure on councils in London, Transport for London and the GLA itself
The discussion is bringing stakeholders together with key policy officials who are due to attend from the GLA; MHCLG; HM Treasury; BEIS; DCMS; Defra; DfE; DIT; DfT; DWP; HMRC; Innovate UK; and the ONS.
The agenda:
- Introduction to London’s Recovery Programme - building a shared vision for a post-COVID future
- Inclusive growth and healthy environments - delivering low-carbon infrastructure, homes, and travel to work
- Wellbeing and social challenges throughout London - tackling poverty and inequality, and developing employment and high value jobs
- Developing healthy cities - a national and international perspective
- London’s contribution to local economies - enabling economic growth in London to reach neighbouring regions and more widely across the UK
A scan of relevant developments:
- the Mayor’s Green New Deal fund - including support for creation of green jobs and SME pilots of circular economy ventures with ambitions to grow the London green economy to £100bn by 2030
- financial services - the Mayor calling on Government to protect the interests of the sector during negotiations as the EU transition negotiations draw to a close
- There can be no national recovery without a London recovery - the Mayor’s official submission to government’s Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR), including:
- the creation of a capital fund for culture and creative industries infrastructure
- short term TfL funding of £5.65bn to ensure maintenance of services and the completion of Crossrail
- the creation of a £1.5bn Clean Air Fund to support the implementation of Clean Air Zones
- an increase in London’s £4bn allocation of the next Affordable Homes Programme (AHP)
- housing - the Housing Infrastructure Fund and its ambition to build 50,000 new homes in London and the surrounding regions, and alleviate housing shortages and support community development
- COVID-19:
- London being placed in Tier 2 in the new system of restrictions from the beginning of
- organisational leadership - the London Transition Board and the London Recovery Board set up to co-ordinate London’s short and long term recovery from the pandemic
- policy initiatives - including TfL’s plans for 24-hour bus lanes to respond to the public’s changing transport habits and the Mayor’s call for urgent support for businesses in the West End
- a cleaner, greener city - a key priority for the Recovery Board cited in the London’s recovery from COVID-19 - what you told us so far public feedback on the Talk London community group
- transport - concerns about steep declines public transport revenue, as Londoners are discouraged from using public transport to stop the spread of COVID-19
Policy officials attending:
Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places have been reserved by officials from the Greater London Authority; MHCLG; HM Treasury; BEIS; the Cabinet Office; DCMS; Defra; the Department for Education; the Department for International Trade; the Department for Transport; DWP; HM Revenue & Customs; HM Treasury; Innovate UK; the Office for National Statistics; and the Office for Product Safety and Standards.
Overall, we expect speakers and attendees to be a senior and informed group including members of the Greater London Authority and senior officials from government agencies, Assembly Members, Westminster Parliamentarians, senior central government officials and other policymakers, together with specialist academics and charities, and reporters from the national and specialist media.
This is a full-scale conference taking place online***
- full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording to refer back to
- information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
- conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
- speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
- opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
- a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
- delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
- networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!
Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference
