Westminster Social Policy Forum

***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***

This timely conference will assess the next steps for English towns.

Areas for discussion include:

• priorities for Town Deals,
• developing housing and transport infrastructure, and
• supporting economic growth.

We also expect discussion on the strategies and support needed by towns, those who live and work in them, and their local economies, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic downturn.

Areas of focus include:

• citizen wellbeing, and services and public spaces - and lessons going forward for how these have been supported and maintained during the crisis,
• employment - with communities with reliance on particular industries such as aviation and engineering being hardest hit, and
• high streets - particularly what can learned from how small businesses have adapted to continue to play a key role in their communities during lockdown, and the way forward to wider recovery.

Why this is relevant: the context:

It takes place with:

• Government initiatives aimed at reviving local econoimies in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, including:
  
  • launch of the Reopening High Streets Safely Fund, providing £50m for local authorities so that measures to support a safe reopening of high streets can be implemented, and
  • the new Cultural Renewal Taskforce tasked with helping plan the safe reopening of the recreation and leisure sectors.
• Recently announced funding for Business Improvement Districts aimed at help town centres and high streets through the pandemic;
• The UK2070 Commission on city and regional inequalities in the UK preparing a progress report, following their final report in February included recommendations to:
  
  • invest in connectivity, and
  • strengthen the local economies of disadvantaged towns.
• Government accelerating its plans for regenerating English towns - as 100 places are chosen to take part in new Town Deals;
• Formation of Town Deal Boards, with Government expecting to receive Town Investment Plans by summer 2020;
• Introduction of a ‘Towns Hub’ within MHCLG - seeking to help local communities draft their investment plans and share best practice, as well as:
  
  • a new advisory panel - to include a range of entrepreneurs and industry experts - geared towards helping government deliver its policy agenda, and
  • the Town of the Year competition - designed to shine a light on the individual achievements of English towns.
• MHCLG announcing that ‘hundreds of millions’ of the £1bn Future High Streets Fund will be invested across England in 2020; and
• A planned National Bus Strategy to be published later this year following the announcement of £5bn to develop bus and cycle links for every region outside London.

Key areas for discussion:

• Maximising impact of the Towns Fund and the deals, and how they can best be structured and implemented to regenerate towns and coastal communities, including:
  
  • the role and make up of Town Deal Boards - to be made up of a cross-section of stakeholders in the public, private and voluntary sectors,
  • Town Investment Plans - setting out evidence-based investment requirements, and aligning with local industrial strategies and other local plans,
  • A case study in successful town regeneration projects - with a contribution from - Dr Kris Declercq, Mayor, Roeselare, Belgium and President, West-Vlaamse Intercommunale, and
  • A case study on the first ‘Town Deal’ - the story from Greater Grimsby - with a contribution from - Rob Walsh, Chief Executive, North East Lincolnshire Council.
• Planning and place-making - priorities when regenerating English towns in the context of:
  
  • the forthcoming Accelerated Planning White Paper - which sets out government plans to speed up the planning system, and
  • revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework - implemented last year.
• Improving what towns offer their communities and visitors, including:
  
  • priorities for the Cultural Renewal Taskforce as they help plan the reopening of the UK’s recreation and leisure sector,
  • provision of local services - following the Local Government secretary announcing increased funding for local authorities for the next financial year of £49.2bn,
  • protecting and developing cultural heritage - with introduction of the £250m Culture Investment Fund - designed to support libraries, museums and other cultural projects.
• Infrastructure - what more can be done to meet the housing and transport needs of towns and their surrounding areas:
  
  • improving transport connections, reliability and bus services, following the Budget and ahead of the National Bus Strategy due later this year, and
  • ensuring that housing is appropriate and optimally located to support economic growth.
• English high streets and local retailers - priorities for regeneration - especially in light of the COVID-19 crisis but also with the Future High Streets Fund - whereby 101 areas have been chosen to apply for up to £25m worth of funding.

The agenda:

• The policy outlook for English Towns;
• Supporting prosperity and learning from successful town regeneration projects;
• Case study - developing a town deal;
• Priorities for making best use of the Towns Fund, developing Town Investment Plans and linking with Local Industrial Strategies;
• Meeting the housing needs of local communities and making sure the right type of housing is in the right place;
• Developing local transport networks, improving bus services and integrating services effectively;
• Improving accessibility to greenspace and its contribution toward the health of local communities; and
• The future for supporting vibrant, healthy and distinct communities - culture, regeneration and opportunity.

Policy officials attending:

Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders.

It’s certainly the case with this one. Places have been reserved by officials from MHCLG; BEIS; the Cities & Local Growth Unit; DCMS; Defra; the Department for International Trade; the Department for Transport; HM Revenue & Customs; the Office for National Statistics; the Office of Government Property and the Office for Product Safety and Standards.

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

***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***

This conference is bringing together key stakeholders with policymakers to assess the next steps for affordable housing in England.

Key areas for discussion:

Priorities for implementing the affordable homes programme and how affordable housing fits into wider government homebuilding plans;

• The impact of the Public Land for Housing Programme;
• What more should be done to ensure the infrastructure is in place to support the development of new homes;
• Priorities for the forthcoming Accelerated Planning White Paper - including plans for simplifying planning permission guidance so commercial buildings can be replaced with housing more efficiently;
• Changes to Permitted Development Rights (PDRs) and government priorities for improving the quality of affordable housing; and
• Next steps for making home ownership more affordable.

Developments that are relevant to the discussion:

• The Chancellor confirming the new and enlarged affordable homes programme will receive a further £3bn in investment, equating to a new multi-year settlement worth £12bn;
• The Planning White Paper outlined in the Queen’s Speech - which will set out government plans aimed at streamlining and speeding up the planning system;
• MHCLG’s plans for housing and planning stating that a new housing strategy is coming later this year - expected to detail long-term plans for affordability and delivery;
• Homes England announcing recent land acquisitions means it can deliver an extra 5,000 new homes across England - 30 percent of which are expected to be affordable; and
• The Government releasing a series of policies designed to make home ownership more affordable - including:
  
  • The First Homes scheme;
  • Changes to the Help to Buy programme; and
  • Plans to reform the shared ownership model.

The agenda:

• Affordable housing in England - the policy landscape and priorities for the future;
• Defining affordability and engaging with the private sector in the delivery of social housing;
• Priorities for local authorities - innovation, affordability and key issues for the planning system;
• Prioritising design in the planning process and the Building Better, Building Beautiful vision;
• Addressing the funding challenges of delivering affordable homes - investment, innovative and local housing companies;
• Ensuring the infrastructure is in place to support new developments and housing as an infrastructure priority; and
• Priorities for accelerating the delivery of affordable housing - practicalities, planning, quality of homes and supporting local growth.

Policy officials attending

Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders.

It’s certainly the case with this one. Places have been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons Library and by a range of officials from the MHCLG and Homes England; as well as BEIS; the Ministry of Justice; the Government Legal Department; the Government Legal Organisation; the Cabinet Office; the Civil Service; the Crown Commercial Service; the Health and Safety Executive and the Department for International Trade.

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

***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***

This conference focuses on the next steps for the Midlands Engine.

Key stakeholders and policymakers will examine latest research on what is needed to deliver economic growth in the Midlands, and discuss how to address the challenges for achieving it.

Of course, we expect there to be a focus across the conference on the way forward for the region in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic - taking into full account the human cost, but in particular focusing on what will be needed from local stakeholders and from government for the Midlands economy to regain its momentum. It follows the release by the WMCA of a plan to put climate change at the centre of economic recovery with a target of the West Midlands being carbon neutral by 2041.

The discussion in detail:

• The first Independent Economic Review from the Engine, designed to better understand the opportunities and challenges for growing the Midlands economy, which raises issues in the areas of:
  
  • productivity - and its variability between different sectors in the Midlands
  • for starting and growing businesses  - and the challenges relating to skills, infrastructure (including East-West transport), and access to finance
  • moving forward - on collaboration in science and innovation, industrial digitisation, support for international business opportunities, and addressing outdated perceptions of the region
• Delivery of local industrial strategies (LIS) across the region and how best to balance economic growth
• Priorities for the Midlands Engine Internationalisation Strategy - with a focus on developing strategic partnerships, global trade and attracting foreign direct investment
• Creating the optimum conditions for economic growth, including the way forward for:
  
  • developing strategic partnerships for the Midlands - including in research and collaboration on innovation
  • increasing the region’s involvement in global trade
  • attracting foreign direct investment
• Strategies for developing dynamism and skills in the regional economy:
  
  • Supporting local authorities and industries in the region, looking at innovation and utilising research strengths areas such as civil engineering, manufacturing and space technology
  • Skills development, including priorities for the refreshed strategy on productivity and wages
• What local communities and businesses need from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, to effectively replace and build upon EU Structural Funding
• Infrastructure development, finance and delivery:
  
  • Regional connectivity and HS2 - following the publication of the Oakervee Review of HS2
  • Regional transport - priorities for rail investment in Midlands, and the ongoing work of Midlands Connect in developing the other six schemes within the Midlands Engine Rail Programme
  • Digital connectivity - developments in increasing mobile coverage and the roll out of full-fibre broadband, and the recent 5G pilot initiatives
  • Housing - priorities for meeting demand across the region
  • Environmental priorities and transition to net zero - how to ensure that infrastructure supports current aims, including developing eco-friendly homes and improving public transport
  • Funding of future projects - what more can be done to drive public and private investment to the region

Developments that are relevant to the discussion:

• Analysis by KPMG finding that the Midlands will be the region hardest hit in the UK by the economic turndown resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic
• The West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy, which sets out plans to boost the region as an advanced manufacturing hub, and takes place with further LIS due to be published
• The forthcoming refreshed Midlands Engine Strategy - due to focus on regional collaboration and growing the economy
• Local councils and transport bodies in the East Midlands releasing a £2.7bn plan to improve transport networks that can join up to the HS2 East Midlands Hub station at Toton
• The Midlands Rail Hub Project receiving £20m in investment in the Budget, meaning that an Outline Business Case can now be made - with more detailed planning on design and costing
• Government issuing a ‘Notice to proceed’ on HS2 - approving main design and construction works to move forward in line with latest public health advice
• The Independent Construction Commissioner’s role extended to include oversight of HS2 Phase 2a - now also working to improve community relations on the West Midlands to Crewe route
• The National Infrastructure Strategy and the Infrastructure Finance Review, both due to be published

The agenda:

• The Midlands Engine Independent Economic Review - key findings and implications
• Creating optimum conditions for economic growth in the Midlands:
  
  • How to prioritise rail investment in the Midlands
  • Implementing local industrial strategies - raising productivity, utilising data and engaging effectively with business
  • Attracting strategic partnerships, global trade and foreign direct investment
  • Strategies for creating a dynamic regional economy - R&D and innovation as drivers of sustainable and inclusive growth
  • Supporting manufacturing and high performing industries in the Engine
  • Priorities for economic recovery post-COVID
• Financing and developing infrastructure to support economic growth:
  
  • Meeting local housing needs and supporting growth - increasing supply, improving affordability and making best use of land
  • Priorities for regional connectivity and HS2 post Oakervee review
  • The future for digital infrastructure in the Midlands - accessibility, full-fibre networks and 5G test beds
  • Assessing strategies for decarbonisation, improving biodiversity net-gain and enhancing natural capital
  • The future for project finance following the Infrastructure Finance Review
• Delivering the Refreshed Midlands Engine Strategy

Policy officials attending:

Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders.

It’s certainly the case with this one. Places have been reserved by officials from BEIS; the Cabinet Office; DCMS; Defra; the Department for Education; the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; the Department for International Trade; the Department for Transport; the Environment Agency; the Health and Safety Executive; Homes England; MHCLG; the Midlands Engine Investment Hub; the Office of Rail and Road; Ofwat and the Planning Inspectorate.

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

This conference will examine building regulations in England - focusing on implementing the new framework, assessing effectiveness and priorities for improving safety.

It will be an opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to discuss:

• implementing the new regulatory system;
• improving industry competence;
• priorities for resident safety; and
• options for regulation and legislation.

The conference takes place in the context of:

• plans to introduce a new Building Safety Regulator - backed by strong sanctions for non-compliance - and with the Building Safety Bill expected in this parliamentary session;
• government consulting on implementing recommendations in its response to Phase 1 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry through the Fire Safety Bill expected this summer; and
• phase 2 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, with hearings having recently resumed.

Speakers and chairs

There will be keynote contributions from:

• Peter Baker, Director, Building Safety Programme Response, Health & Safety Executive;
• Professor Susan Bright, Law Faculty, University of Oxford;
• Peter Caplehorn, Deputy Chief Executive, Construction Products Association and Deputy Chair, IRG Competence Steering Group;
• Dr Graham Spinardi, Fire Safety Engineering, University of Edinburgh; and
• Martin Taylor, Director, Regulatory Policy, Local Authority Building Control.

Further speakers include: Andrew Carpenter, Structural Timber Association and Construction Excellence South West; Adrian Dobson, Royal Institute of British Architects; Laura Hughes, Association of British Insurers and Mark Snelling, Association of Residential Management Agents.

Rt Hon the Lord Stunell, Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson for Construction and Rt Hon the Lord Whitty have kindly agreed to chair this seminar.

The agenda

• Building regulations: the evolving landscape and priorities going forward;
• Assessing the effectiveness of the new regulatory framework:
  
  • Local authorities and building regulations - planning, working with partners, and priorities for enforcement;
  • Improving industry competence and the culture around compliance;
  • Ensuring safety in high-rise residential buildings - design, retrofit, and risk assessment;
  • Learning from the regulation of high-risk industries;
  • Improving fire safety, making sure residents feel safe in their homes, and effectively engaging communities; and
  • Engaging with residents in building safety measures.
• Next steps for cladding removal, non-domestic buildings and ensuring safety;
• Addressing the challenges for implementing changes to the regulatory system; and
• Next steps for policy.

Engagement with policy officials at this conference

This Westminster Social Policy Forum conference has attracted strong interest from policymakers. It will be an opportunity for stakeholders to engage with officials who have reserved places representing: MHCLG; BEIS; HSE; the Cabinet office; Committee on Climate Change; Defra; Department for International Trade; Department for Transport; NAO; The Office for Low Emission Vehicles and the Welsh Government.

This conference will examine the implementation of policy on reducing homelessness and rough sleeping in England - and what can be learned from the experience of stakeholders so far.

It will be an opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to consider the progress of policy and next steps, with the new government committed to ending rough sleeping by the end of this parliament.

Delegates will discuss:

• Implementation of the Homelessness Reduction Act (HRA) following the consultation on its progress - amid growing concerns reported among councils about current funding;
• The Rough Sleeping Strategy and delivery plan setting out the government approach to halving rough sleeping by 2022 and ending it by 2027, with a recent funding top-up; and
• Progress with the government backed Housing First pilot schemes.

Speakers and chair

There will be keynote contributions from Polly Neate, Chief Executive, Shelter; David Eastwood, Rough Sleeping Lead, Housing & Land, Greater London Authority and Aileen Murphie, Director, MHCLG & Local Government Value for Money, National Audit Office.

Further speakers include: Tim Baldwin, Garden Court Chambers; Imogen Blood, Imogen Blood & Associates; Heather Bowman, Sovereign Housing Association; Simon Clark, Sanctuary Group; Richard Clewer, Wiltshire Council; Tom Copley AM, GLA Oversight Committee; Cat Drew, Design Council; Doug Gibson, Homeless Network Scotland; John Stewart, Residential Landlords Association and Rory Weal, St Mungo’s.

The chairs are: Lord McNicol of West Kilbride and The Baroness Grender.

The agenda

• Homelessness - current trends and emerging issues;
• Local approaches, value for money, duty to refer and challenges for implementing the Homelessness Reduction Act;
• Housing first - progress on domestic initiatives and learning from international best practice;
• The No Nights Sleeping Rough Taskforce and wider priorities for tackling homelessness in London;
• Rough sleeping and substance use - research into rising number of deaths, protecting vulnerable groups and working with third sector partners;
• The developing role of the private rented sector - tackling rogue landlords and ending ‘no-fault’ evictions; and
• Priorities for homelessness policy in the capital.

Engagement with policy officials attending this conference

Westminster Social Policy Forum conferences typically attract strong interest from policymakers. This seminar will be an opportunity for stakeholders to engage with parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons and officials who have reserved places representing: MHCLG; HMPPS; Home Office; Homes England; ONS; CMA; DIT; DWP; Government Legal Department;; MoJ; NAO; Office for Statistics Regulation; Regulator of Social Housing and The Scottish Government.

This conference will assess next steps for the Oxford-Cambridge Arc.

Delegates will discuss priorities for the transport and housing infrastructure, and wider issues for the development of the Arc and economic growth in the region.

It is timed to assess progress since the Joint Declaration of Ambition between Government and local partners in the regionv- which establishes a long-term vision for:

• housing,
• wider infrastructural development, and
• unlocking the Arc’s economic potential.

Further sessions look at how the Arc needs to fit into the Government’s National Infrastructure Strategy - now expected to be published alongside the first Budget.

The conference will also provide an opportunity to consider the next steps for the Arc’s four Local Industrial Strategies - for Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Buckinghamshire and South East Midlands - that were launched last summer.

Speakers and chair

There will be keynote addresses from: Bridget Rosewell, Commissioner, National Infrastructure Commission and Councillor Barry Wood, Leader, Cherwell District Council and Chair, The Arc Leaders Group.

Further speakers include: Professor Chas Bountra, University of Oxford; Rob Brighouse, East West Railway Company; Jeanne Capey, Environment Agency; Sarah Greenwood, Homes England; John Gourd, Cambridge Network; Adrian Hames, WSP; Richard Harrington, Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership and Richard Wade, Blake Morgan.

We are delighted that Rt Hon the Lord Adonis, former Chair, National Infrastructure Commission and John Howell MP, Member of Parliament for Henley, have kindly agreed to chair this seminar.

The agenda

• Next steps for developing the Arc;
• Collaboration and spreading the benefits of the Arc to communities across the region;
• Realising the full economic benefits of the Arc - innovation, collaboration, and linking the four Local Industrial Strategies:
  
  • Engaging business, attracting inward investment, and driving forward Local Industrial Strategies;
  • Establishing the Arc as a global-leading innovation hub; and
  • Attracting and developing high-performing industries, investing in skills, and maximising productivity.
• Developing and delivering infrastructure to unlock the Arc’s potential:
  
  • Strategies for housing delivery - making best use of land and improving affordability;
  • Progress of East West Rail and the challenges ahead;
  • Thinking differently about transport infrastructure in the Arc: connecting people and places;
  • Engaging businesses and communities, improving connectivity, and reducing barriers to growth; and
  • Biodiversity net gain in new developments and species and landscape protection.

Engagement with policy officials at this conference

This Westminster Social Policy Forum conference has attracted strong interest from policymakers. It will be an opportunity for stakeholders to engage with officials who have reserved places representing: MHCLG; DfT; Infrastructure and Projects Authority; BEIS; Cabinet Office; Defra; HMRC; Homes England; Innovate UK; NAO; Office of Government Property; the Regulator of Social Housing; DCMS; DIT; DWP; and HMPPS.

This conference discussed the future of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and next steps for regional growth in England, bringing together key stakeholders with policymakers in local and national government.

With the Government’s major focus on regional growth, devolved powers, and levelling up, delegates assessed:

• The development and implementation of Local Industrial Strategies (LIS);
• The outlook for further devolution - with expected publication of the English Devolution White Paper - and the role of LEPs in distributing the UK Shared Prosperity Fund; and
• Progress on LEP accountability and strategic priorities since the Strengthened Local Enterprise Partnerships review.

Speakers

We were pleased to include keynote addresses from:

• Mark Bretton, Chair, The LEP Network and Chair, Hertfordshire LEP;
• Mark Livesey, Chief Executive, The LEP Network; and
• Aileen Murphie, Local Government Value for Money, National Audit Office and Director, MHCLG.

Further speakers included: Mark Duddridge, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership; Sean Hanson, Local Partnerships; Tracy Harrison, Northern Housing Consortium; Mike Hawking, Joseph Rowntree Foundation; Jim Hubbard, CBI; Stacey King, Enterprise M3 and CityFibre; Jo Lappin, Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership; Mark Livesey, The LEP Network; Alistair Lomax, Arc Universities Group; Bob Perkins, AECOM; Helen Randall, Trowers & Hamlins and Heather Sharp, KPMG.

The agenda

• Next steps for Local Enterprise Partnerships and delivering regional projects;
• Local Enterprise Partnerships and providing value for money;
• Meeting strategic priorities - cost efficiency, improving accountability and strengthening local infrastructure;
• Supporting local growth and regeneration - the impact of further devolution and outlook for the Shared Prosperity Fund;
• The role of LEPs in supporting the development and delivery of Local Industrial Strategies; and
• Local Industrial Strategies implementation - utilising regional strengths, developing partnerships, and sharing best practice.

Engagement with policy officials at this conference

This Westminster Social Policy Forum conference attracted particularly strong interest from policymakers. It was an opportunity for stakeholders to engage with officials who have reserved places representing: the BEIS; MHCLG; DCMS; the Cabinet Office; HM Treasury; the Cities & Local Growth Unit; the Infrastructure and Projects Authority; Defra; DfT; the Department for Education; Ofsted; DIT; DWP; Government Equalities Office; HMRC; Innovate UK; the Office of Government Property and UK Space Agency.