Westminster Social Policy Forum

This conference will examine priorities for decarbonising local government services and their role in meeting net-zero greenhouse gas emissions targets by 2050.

This is a timely opportunity to consider issues for local government in the context of the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report, which highlights the human causes of climate change and the implications of the now almost inevitable 1.5°C rise in global temperatures above pre-industrial levels - as well as developments from the COP26 climate summit and individual declarations of a climate emergency by more than 300 local administrations.

Delegates will consider the role of local governments and authorities in working towards regional requirements for combatting climate change while also contributing to wider ambitions to achieve net-zero emissions. Discussion will also focus on how best to ensure that regional needs and priorities are heard at a national level to secure adequate support for preparing for the impact of climate change.

We are pleased to be able to include keynote contributions from core stakeholders, including:

• the evolving role of local authorities in emissions reduction and creating sustainable local plans - with Steve Read, Chair, ADEPT Environment Board; and Director of Environment and Public Protection, West Sussex County Council
• Local government and net zero in England - taking forward the NAO report - with Keith Davis, Director, Defra Value for Money, National Audit Office
• delivering decarbonising mechanisms and creating the framework for long-term change - with Simon Sturgis, Founder, Targeting Zero; former Chair, RIBA Sustainable Futures Group; and Chair, Whole Life Carbon Network

The discussion is bringing together stakeholders with key policy officials who are due to attend from BEIS; DAERA, NI; Defra; the Department for the Economy, NI; the DfT; the MoJ; the Office for Product Safety and Standards; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government.

***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***
This conference will discuss the future for housing design and delivery in the UK, following the appointment of the new Secretary of State and the renaming of The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, to reflect its new role in delivering the Government’s Levelling Up agenda.

It will also be an opportunity to discuss the National Model Design Code and the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission’s Living with Beauty report, assessing their proposals and the outlook for the sector.

Delegates will look at the potential restructuring of the planning process outlined in the Planning Bill - which was announced in the Queen’s speech, but is now under review - as well as the impact on the sector of the Building Safety Bill, the Fire Safety Act, and reforms around building regulation.

We are pleased to be able to include keynote sessions with:

• Sir John Hayes MP, Member, Office for Place Advisory Board
• Dr Ben Clifford, Associate Professor In Spatial Planning and Government, Bartlett School of Planning, UCL
• Jeff Endean, Director, Cast Consultancy
• Victoria Hills, Chief Executive, Royal Town Planning Institute
• Paul Monaghan, Director, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris; and Special Adviser, Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission
• Professor Sadie Morgan, Founding Director, dRMM Architects, Board Member, Homes England; and Commissioner, National Infrastructure Commission

The agenda will bring out latest thinking on:

• the National Model Design Code, housing quality, and safety
• the planning process and local decision making
• sustainability in design and delivery
• priorities for the new Office for Place

Attendees

Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places have been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons, and officials from BEIS; Defra; the Development Bank of Wales; DWP; HM Revenue & Customs; the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities; the Office for Product Safety and Standards; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government. Also due to attend are representatives from Child Graddon Lewis; CPRE Hampshire; East Riding of Yorkshire Council; FPRA; Morris+Company; Okehampton Town Council; Tendring District Council; and University of Cambridge.

This is a full-scale conference taking place online***

• full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording and transcript 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 are 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 will discuss priorities for the third sector - looking at key issues around funding and sustainability as it recovers from the impact of the pandemic.

Sessions will assess the impact of regulation and legislation, options for government support post-pandemic, and latest thinking on fundraising, ethics and transparency, and public engagement.

The conference will also be an opportunity to look forward to priorities for the Charities Bill, now in its second reading in the House of Lords, which aims to reduce the level of bureaucracy faced by charities and expand the dormant assets scheme.

Alongside the Bill, delegates will examine other recent developments in the sector, such as the increasing importance of charities’ digital presence and the increased cyber security risk that this brings, as well as issues and best practice around data protection in light of the European Commission’s draft data adequacy decisions and ongoing work on the ICO’s Direct Marketing Code of Practice.

This will also be an opportunity for delegates to consider priorities for the sector in the context of COVID-19, looking at the impact it has had on fundraising, priorities for support, and the role of the charity sector in the response to the pandemic - and how this can be built on to develop future practices.

We are pleased to be able to include keynote sessions on:

• How the charity sector responded to the pandemic and its role in reaching vulnerable groups - with a senior speaker confirmed from Barnardo’s
• Ongoing priorities for fundraising regulation - with Gerald Oppenheim, Chief Executive, Fundraising Regulator
• The impact of COVID-19 on fundraising, practice, and innovation - with Daniel Fluskey, Head of Policy and External Affairs, Institute of Fundraising
• Taking forward the Law Commission proposals for reform to charity law - with Professor Nicholas Hopkins, Commissioner, Law Commission

Attendees

Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places have been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Lords and officials from the Charity Commission; the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport; and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Also due to attend are representatives from the Association of Charitable Organisations; BBC Children in Need; BHP; British Heart Foundation; Burton Sweet; Canal & River Trust; Change Grow Live; City Hearts; Community Leisure UK; Founders4Schools; Haysmacintyre; HCR Hewitsons; Islamic Relief; Jonathan Badger Consulting; Medway Voluntary Action; National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society; Nicola Gunn & Associates; One Thought Changes All; Parchment Trust; Pelvic Partnership; Prader-Willi Syndrome Association UK; Prisoners' Education Trust; Provident Financial; Radcliffe Chambers; RSM UK; Ruils; Scleroderma & Reynaud's UK; Sheila McKechnie Foundation; St Edward's School, Windsor; Syon Housing; The Braveheart Association; The Oswin Project; The Rothschild Foundation; Tuberous Sclerosis Association; Turning Point; Underwood Consulting; WaterAid; World Pencil; and Wycombe Homeless Connection.

Press passes have been reserved by representatives from Third Sector.

Overall, we expect speakers and attendees to be a senior and informed group including Members of both Houses of Parliament, senior government and regulatory officials involved in this area of policy, as well as from representatives of charities, technology providers and fundraising consultants, marketing organisations, those in the public and private sector who work with the third sector, regulatory bodies, citizen groups, local authorities, campaigning organisations, legal experts and practitioners, businesses and their advisors and social and academic commentators, together with 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 and transcript 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 are 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 will be an opportunity to assess a range of significant policy initiatives and developments affecting the sector, including:

• the National Home Building Fund
• the Levelling Up Fund and plan to Build Back Better in the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic
• the Affordable Homes Programme
• the Planning Bill, which was recently paused by the new Secretary of State
• the Fire Safety Act 2021 and Building Safety Bill

We are pleased to welcome keynote contributions from Ann Bentley, Global Board Director, Rider Levett Bucknall; Richard Blyth, Head of Policy Practice & Research, RTPI;  and Councillor David Renard, Leader, Swindon Council; and Chairman, Economy, Environment, Housing and Transport Board, Local Government Association.

Areas for discussion include:

• tackling barriers to housing delivery
• supporting sector recovery from the pandemic
• reforming the planning system to enable the delivery of more new homes
• the role of innovation in design and construction
• improving safety across the life cycle of a building

Attendees

Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places have been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons and officials from BEIS; the Cabinet Office; Defra; the Department for Education; the Department for Infrastructure, NI; the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities; the Department for Transport; HM Revenue & Customs; the National Audit Office; the Office for National Statistics; the Office of Product Safety and Standards; the Planning Inspectorate; and the Welsh Government. Also due to attend are representatives from Bristol City Council; Cheltenham Borough Homes; Consilio Property; Flood Re; Friends of Carrington Moss; Global Garden; Ingleton Wood; Karbon Homes; Kensington and Chelsea Council; London Borough of Islington; Mid Devon District Council; Osborne Clarke; South Downs National Park Authority; South Oxfordshire District Council; Stockport Council; Stratford-on-Avon District Council; Tendring District Council; The Federation of Private Residents Associations; The Planning Inspectorate; University of Liverpool; and Ward Hadaway.

Press passes have been reserved by representatives from Construction News; Inside Housing; and RICS.

This is a full-scale conference taking place online***

• full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording and transcript 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 are 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

When it happened…

Wednesday, 8 September 2021

What delegates came to discuss…

This conference will discuss the future for devolution and priorities for supporting growth in left-behind regions - including what is needed for economic recovery in the wake of the pandemic.

It will be an opportunity to discuss key issues for:

• the proposed Levelling Up White Paper, due to be published later this year, which will set out new policy interventions aimed at improving livelihoods and opportunity in all parts of the UK
• the relaunched inquiry into the progress on devolution in England from the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee

We are pleased to be able to include keynote sessions with Rt Hon Lord Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 2010-15; Baroness Blake of Leeds, former leader, Leeds City Council; and Board Member, The Northern Powerhouse Partnership; and Nigel Wilcock, Executive Director, Institute of Economic Development (IED).

Sessions in the agenda look at:

• the future of regional devolution in England
• learning from the experience of devolution to date, and how local decision-making has evolved as a response to the pandemic
• next steps for delivering economic growth and regeneration across England, and priorities for the planned Levelling up White Paper
• developing the infrastructure needed to support growth:
  
  • building on existing knowledge and partnership frameworks
  • linking with existing local services and building on the strengths of each area 
• policy priorities for driving economic growth across the UK and the Government’s ‘Levelling Up’ agenda

Who attended…

Officials from BEIS; the Cabinet Office; Defra; the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport; the Department for Education; the Department for International Trade; the Department for Transport; the Department of Health and Social Care; the DWP; the Home Office; the Intellectual Property Office; the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government; the National Audit Office; the National Infrastructure Commission; the Office for National Statistics; the Office for Product Safety and Standards; the Office of Rail and Road; The Planning Inspectorate; and the Welsh Government.

Representatives from ARTSM; Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council; Breckland Council; British Geological Survey; Cambridgeshire County Council; Canal & River Trust; Harrogate Borough Council; Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership; Highways England; Liverpool City Region Combined Authority; Northern Council for Further Education; Peel L&P; The Campaign to Protect Rural England Wiltshire; University of Bath; Warrington Borough Council; and West Midlands Combined Authority.

When it happened…

Tuesday, 20 July 2021

What delegates came to discuss…

This conference is examining next steps for improving building standards and fire safety in the UK - looking at priorities for the new Building Safety Regulator, and the impact of forthcoming changes to the regulatory landscape.

The discussion is taking place in the context of:

• the ongoing Grenfell Tower Inquiry
• the Government’s recently announced five-point plan for building regulation, which commits to protecting leaseholders from the cost of replacing unsafe cladding
• the Fire Safety Act, which has now received royal assent following debate in Parliament regarding liability for costs, limitations to possible funding, and priorities for protecting safety
• the Building Safety Bill, which was published on the 5th July after being taken forward as part of the Queen’s Speech, as well as the new Building Safety Regulator, which will oversee new regulations
• the Planning for the Future white paper, which aims to streamline and modernise the planning process, and was also taken forward as part of the Queen’s Speech

We are pleased to be able to include keynote sessions with Frances Kirwan, Deputy Director, Technical Policy, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government; Sarah Mallagh, Senior Policy Advisor, Health and Safety Executive; and Martin Taylor, Director of Regulatory Policy, LABC - as well as contributions from the Association of Residential Managing Agents; Burges Salmon; The Confederation of Co-operative Housing; the Construction Products Association; the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea; the Royal Institute of British Architects Trust; the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors; and the University of Central Lancashire. The chair is Jim Shannon MP, Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group for Healthy Homes and Buildings.

The agenda will bring out latest thinking in areas such as:

• regulation - priorities for the new Building Safety Regulator and the regulatory framework
• fire safety - looking at:
  
  • issues for the implementation of the Fire Safety Act
  • stakeholder perspectives on the scope of the Act, including any potential unresolved issues
  • ensuring industry compliance and best practice
• growing stakeholder confidence - priorities for:
  
  • effective engagement between regulators and tenants, landlords, and property owners
  • embedding safety in design

Who attended…

Officials from BEIS; Defra; the Government Legal Department; the Health and Safety Executive; HM Land Registry; HM Revenue & Customs; the Home Office; the Law Commission; the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government; the National Audit Office; the Office of Product Safety and Standards; and the Welsh Government.

Representatives from 3C Building Control; Association for Specialist Fire Protection; Basildon Borough Council; Bevan Brittan; Bishop & Sewell; Bristol City Council; Cambridge City Council; Canterbury City Council; Central Bedfordshire Council; Charles Russell Speechlys; Devonshires Solicitors; Element Materials Technology; ENGIE Regeneration; Estates & Management; Exyte Hargreaves; Faithful+Gould; Gowling WLG; Haringey Council; Homeground Management; Kaplan International; Kingspan Insulation; Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Long Harbour; M3 Consulting; Mills & Reeve; MSB Solicitors; OSB Group; Osborne Clarke; Royal Institute of British Architects; Sanctuary Group; Southend Borough Council; Thomas Bell-Wright Intl Consultants; Travers Smith; Ulster University; VolkerWessels UK; Warringtonfire; Way of Life and West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service.

Press: Construction News.

Westminster Social Policy Forum keynote seminar
Tackling drug addiction and substance misuse
Morning, Monday, 28th June 2021

Full replays of Westminster Social Policy Forum conferences are made available within one week of the live broadcast, providing a timely and permanent record of proceedings for delegates on the day, for our policymaker contacts in parliament, government and regulation, and wider stakeholders in business, advocacy groups and beyond.

Accompanying material includes a ready-reference transcript, copies of the speakers’ presentation material, the delegate information pack, and relevant articles supplied by attendees after the conference.

The agenda can be viewed here.

Westminster Social Policy Forum keynote seminar
Next steps for tackling child poverty and hunger in the UK - access to education, impact of COVID-19, and priorities for policy and support
Morning, Wednesday, 26th May 2021

Full replays of Westminster Social Policy Forum conferences are made available within one week of the live broadcast, providing a timely and permanent record of proceedings for delegates on the day, for our policymaker contacts in parliament, government and regulation, and wider stakeholders in business, advocacy groups and beyond.

Accompanying material includes a ready-reference transcript, copies of the speakers’ presentation material, the delegate information pack, and relevant articles supplied by attendees after the conference.

The agenda can be viewed here.

Westminster Social Policy Forum keynote seminar
Next steps for economic growth and development in the Midlands
Morning, Wednesday, 9th June 2021

Full replays of Westminster Social Policy Forum conferences are made available within one week of the live broadcast, providing a timely and permanent record of proceedings for delegates on the day, for our policymaker contacts in parliament, government and regulation, and wider stakeholders in business, advocacy groups and beyond.

Accompanying material includes a ready-reference transcript, copies of the speakers’ presentation material, the delegate information pack, and relevant articles supplied by attendees after the conference.

The agenda can be viewed here.

Westminster Social Policy Forum keynote seminar
Regional inequalities and assessing the Government’s levelling up policy framework - priorities, funding mechanisms, implementation, and targeting need across the UK
Morning, Friday, 30th April 2021

Full replays of Westminster Social Policy Forum conferences are made available within one week of the live broadcast, providing a timely and permanent record of proceedings for delegates on the day, for our policymaker contacts in parliament, government and regulation, and wider stakeholders in business, advocacy groups and beyond.

Accompanying material includes a ready-reference transcript, copies of the speakers’ presentation material, the delegate information pack, and relevant articles supplied by attendees after the conference.

The agenda can be viewed here.

***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***
This conference focuses on next steps for the Oxford-Cambridge Arc.

Areas for discussion include:

• infrastructure development - maximising its impact on economic development in the Arc, and priorities for transport and housing
• the Oxford-Cambridge Arc Economic Prospectus - examining its proposals, including next steps for investment
• global profile - latest thinking on how to achieve the Arc’s potential for leadership in R&D, and how to attract more high-value businesses
• a coordinated regional approach - progress and outstanding issues in joining up local industrial strategies
• inclusiveness and stewardship - ensuring that growth ambitions take into account environmental and species protection, and engagement and benefit across communities

The conference takes place in the wake of significant policy developments aimed at responding to the health and financial challenges caused by COVID-19, and with the Arc having been described by the Chancellor of the Exchequer as a key economic priority for the country.

The conference is bringing together stakeholders with parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons and key policy officials who are due to attend from BEIS; the Cabinet Office; DCMS; Defra; the DIT; the DfT; HMRC; the MHCLG and the Office of Government Property.

The agenda:

• Supporting economic development across the Arc
• Key takeaways from the Economic Prospectus and progress on project delivery
• Boosting economic growth in the region in the wake of the pandemic and taking forward the Arc Spatial Framework
  
  • Priorities for attracting high-performing industries, investing in skills and improving productivity
  • Next steps for establishing the Arc as global leader in R&D and innovation
  • Developing a joined-up approach to the implementation of the Local Industrial Strategies
  • Delivering balanced growth throughout the Arc
• Delivering infrastructure to unlock the Arc’s potential
  
  • Streamlining connectivity, engaging communities, and reducing barriers to growth
  • Housing delivery in the Arc and levelling up communities
  • Upgrading transport infrastructure to support growth
  • Priorities for ensuring species and landscapes protection in the Arc and moving towards net zero
• Government’s priorities for the Arc

Key areas for discussion:

• the Oxford-Cambridge Arc Economic Prospectus - assessing its key recommendations, including calls for the Government on:
  
  • the Arc’s wider role - looking at how the plans for the area can best fit into the national ambition to cement the UK as a science superpower under the R&D Roadmap
  • investment - establishing direct Arc-governed channels to the sources of finance that can match the region’s ambitions
• the strategic elements - looking at ways to drive the economic recovery of the region, and the role of the Arc in the wider national economic recovery, with discussion expected on:
  
  • playing to the Arc’s strengths - how the region’s leadership in science, technology and advanced manufacturing can best be harnessed
  • collaboration - how joint working already going on between businesses, education and research institutions can be built on going forward
  • Local Industrial Strategies - progress in implementing the four LISs across the Arc, and the challenges faced in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic
  • the four new development corporations - their purpose and potential, and assessing the case outlined in plans for the spatial framework
• infrastructure in the Arc:
  
  • priorities for improvement - with calls for more investment, and concern over the impact of connectivity and congestion constraints on the ability to fully unlock the potential of the region
  • current key focus areas - looking at East West Rail, broadband connectivity and the Government’s ambitions for 1m new homes to be built in the Arc by 2050
  • support - the impact of recent government announcements, including an additional £4m in the Spending Review to help accelerate housing and infrastructure delivery in the Arc
  • the National Infrastructure Strategy - examining wider priorities for developing infrastructure in the Arc, including for:
    
    • delivery - the way forward for improving and accelerating implementation of infrastructure projects, and speeding up planning and procurement
    • private investment - how funding can be encouraged and diversified
    • decarbonisation - looking at heat, power and transport networks across the Arc
  • changing demands - with the pandemic having impacted the ways in which people use infrastructure:
    
    • the new normal - prospects for increased home working and active travel post-pandemic
    • implications - how new trends and habits should inform policy and the direction of infrastructure projects in the Arc
  • contributing to net-zero - ways to manage potential impacts on biodiversity, emissions and natural capital from economic growth and increased connectivity in the Arc

Relevant developments:

• key proposals:
  
  • the Oxford-Cambridge Arc Economic Prospectus - recently submitted to the Government:
    
    • setting out a vision to transform the Arc into a world-leading innovation and productivity hub and double the region’s economic output to £200bn by 2050
    • requesting long-term investment in the area to help the Arc fulfil its potential
  • The Oxford-Cambridge Arc: government ambition and joint declaration between government and local partners - published in 2019
• Government's plan to transform Oxford-Cambridge Arc into UK's fastest growing economic region - from MHCLG, announcing:
  
  • a spatial framework plan due to be published in 2022, with consultation and aiming to create employment, grow investment, protect and improve the environment, and develop infrastructure
  • the aim of ensuring that benefits of economic and infrastructure development, and placemaking, are spread across the region
  • plans for establishing an Arc Growth Body as a single voice for the area in driving and supporting economic growth
• the Oxford Local Plan 2036 - adopted by the Oxford City Council and laying out plans for the delivery of new jobs, homes and infrastructure in Oxford as well as the Oxfordshire Investment Plan
• the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Local Economic Recovery Strategy - aimed at helping the region's economy recover and renew following COVID-19
• the government announces preferred East West Rail central section - route E, for the Cambridge-Bedford section
• other major strategies and support packages:
  
  • the £10bn package to build more homes and level up communities in the Spending Review
  • the recent Energy White Paper
  • the National Infrastructure Strategy
  • the upcoming R&D Places Strategy following the UK Research and Development Roadmap
• the East West Rail Project - awarded £760m by the Department for Transport to reinstate services between Bicester in Oxfordshire and Bletchley in Buckinghamshire

Policy officials attending:

Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places have been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons, and officials from BEIS; the Cabinet Office; Defra; the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport; the Department for International Trade; the Department for Transport; HM Revenue & Customs; the MHCLG and the Office of Government Property.

Overall, we expect speakers and attendees to be a senior and informed group including Members of both Houses of Parliament, senior government and regulatory officials involved in this area of policy, as well as from local authorities within the Oxford-MK-Cambridge Arc as well as directly adjacent areas, engineering companies, transport providers, housing developers, environmental groups, investors, colleges and universities, lawyers, consultants, housing associations, local community representatives, business and industry associations, trade unions, academics, together with 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 and transcript 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 will discuss the key policy priorities for tackling homelessness and rough sleeping during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The agenda includes case studies from across the UK on initiatives on homelessness, and discussion on the continued implementation of the Homelessness Reduction Act.

Areas for discussion include:

• the impact of the pandemic and emerging issues
• homelessness policy and legislation - with discussion on the Homelessness Reduction Act, as well as the Everyone In scheme and Housing First pilots
• local approaches to homelessness reduction - and case studies from London and Scotland on initiatives to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping
• meeting the long-term housing needs of vulnerable people

The discussion is bringing together stakeholders with key policy officials who are due to attend from MHCLG; DHSC; the DWP; HMPPS; the Home Office; the MoJ; the ONS; Defra; and the Welsh Government..

The agenda:

• Homelessness and rough sleeping - the impact of the pandemic and emerging issues
• Housing rough sleepers during the pandemic - implications for the future
• Developing and delivering local approaches to homelessness reduction - key themes from the call for evidence on the Homelessness Reduction Act
• Tackling rough sleeping in London during COVID-19
• Reducing homelessness in Scotland - learning from best practice and engaging with the third sector
• Meeting the long-term housing needs of vulnerable people - the Housing First pilots, the pandemic, and strategies for collaborative working across housing, health, local authorities and third sector

Key areas for discussion:

• the Homelessness Reduction Act - ongoing implementation, following the government response to its recent consultation and publication of an evaluation commissioned by MHCLG:
  
  • practicalities at a local level - drawing on experience of implementation and assessing what is being effective
  • options for support - for local authorities, housing associations and third sector partners, such as:
    
    • with personalised housing plans
    • to build upon the work on the prevention duty, viewed by the independent review as the most effective element of the Act in achieving positive outcomes for more service users
  • the duty to refer - addressing issues outlined in the consultation response, with almost as many respondents finding it had no impact as those reported it helping prevent homelessness
  • responsiveness to service users - discussing the experiences of people approaching their local authority for help, and how this has changed in the pandemic
  • temporary accommodation - what more can be done to improve its quality and provision, and ensure that support is reaching those who need it most
• the impact of COVID-19 - policy priorities, best practice, and meeting the long-term housing needs of vulnerable people:
  
  • the Everyone In scheme - what lessons can be learnt from its success, including in reducing COVID-19 infections among rough sleepers
  • local initiatives during the pandemic - work being done by councils and combined authorities:
    
    • case studies included in the agenda - tackling rough sleeping in London, and the approach in Scotland to tackling homelessness and rough sleeping
    • options for supporting local services - and the effectiveness of Government schemes aimed at addressing homelessness and rough sleeping over the winter and spring period
  • the Housing First pilots - impact on the aim of supporting rough sleepers with complex needs into stable, affordable accommodation and what can be learnt to inform future programmes
  • preventing homelessness - safeguarding those struggling to pay rent, and options for increasing support through the benefit system in the face of economic turmoil resulting from COVID-19
  • options for policy - what more might be required to prevent homelessness and rough sleeping, support local services, and encourage collaboration across key sectors, and prospects for urgent review into the causes of rough sleeping

A scan of relevant developments:

• the Homelessness Reduction Act - the call for evidence designed to support its ongoing implementation, the government response, and independent evaluation on progress
• Rough sleepers to be helped to keep safe this winter:
  
  • government plans aimed at supporting rough sleepers and those at risk of becoming homeless as part of its winter rough sleeping plan
  • the Everyone In scheme - implemented in the first lockdown, with a study published in The Lancet finding that it had reduced COVID-19 infections among rough sleepers
  • the Protect Programme - £15m in further government funding for providing accommodation to rough sleepers during lockdowns
• the COVID-19 Rough Sleeping Taskforce - with its former head and review lead, Dame Louise Casey, warning that unless benefits were increased to compensate for people's loss of earnings the UK risks a period of destitution with rising homelessness, and family and child poverty
• COVID-19 Vaccination plan - local vaccination services extended to reach homeless groups unable to attend vaccination sites
• COVID-19 protections allocated for rough sleepers and renters - extra funding support to all councils in England, who are asked to strengthen their efforts to help accommodate everyone who is currently sleeping rough, and to ensure they are registered with a GP
• Funding allocated for 3,300 new homes for rough sleepers - long-term provision for vulnerable people planned to be available by the end of March 2021
• the Rough Sleeping Strategy - with the Government’s target of halving rough sleeping by 2022 and ending it by 2027
• the charter for social housing residents: social housing white paper - including plans to consider how best to remove access barriers to social housing for homeless households
• Action to help prevent vulnerable young people from becoming homeless - new guidance for councils to help them ensure that care leavers have the stable homes they need
• Extra help for rough sleepers with drug and alcohol dependency - £23m for 43 areas across England this year, boosted by a further £52m in 2021 to 2022
• Government pledges further £310m to tackle homelessness - new funding allocated to councils most in need, with an increase of £47m from last year aimed at helping those at risk of homelessness and those in temporary accommodation, and offering support to those already without homes

Policy officials attending:

Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. ). Places have been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons and officials from MHCLG; Defra; DHSC; the DWP; Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service; the Home Office; the Ministry of Justice; the Office for National Statistics; and the Welsh Government.

This is a full-scale conference taking place online***

• full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording and transcript 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 focussing on priorities for devolution in England and the way forward for policy.

The discussion is bringing together stakeholders with key policy officials due to attend from HM Treasury; the Cabinet Office; MHCLG; the Cities and Local Growth Unit; BEIS; DCMS; DfE; DfT; DWP; HMRC; the NAO; the CPS; Defra; DIT; and the Welsh Government.

The discussion at a glance:

• economic growth and sustainability - assessing the impact of devolution and local industrial strategies
• infrastructure, recovery and growth - priorities for renewing and enhancing infrastructure to support local economies
• the policy agenda - priorities for moving forward devolution in England and the future shape, scope and timing of policy
• progress - looking at latest developments what can be learnt from existing devolution deals and the experience of city region mayoralties
• COVID-19 - next steps for dealing with the significant immediate and long-term challenges posed for devolved regions by the pandemic, and the impact on the development of policy

The agenda:

• Assessing the current landscape for devolution in England
• Case study: responding to COVID-19 and supporting local economic recovery
• Priorities for future devolution in England - collaboration, greater budgetary control, and empowering local approaches as part of the recovery from COVID-19 and in future crises
• Devolution as a driver of regional development - attracting investment, supporting economic recovery, implementing local industrial strategies, and enhancing local infrastructure
• Next steps for policy and devolution - lessons from the Northern Powerhouse

A scan of relevant developments:

• the Devolution White Paper - the Government’s strategy for more devolution deals, metro mayors and devolved powers across the country, with questions about its timing and scope
• A New Deal for Britain - the Prime Minister’s £5bn national infrastructure spending plan - including £900m to fund local growth projects in England
• recent new devolution deals - for South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, and with steps being taken for York and North Yorkshire
• COVID-19 - powers and levels of autonomy for England’s local authorities brought into sharper focus with introduction of more localised control of infection outbreaks alongside disagreements on central government funding and individual local approaches
• Brexit and devolution - the Internal Market Bill which includes plans to redistribute powers in a range of policy areas previously exercised at an EU level
• funding - The UK Shared Prosperity Fund, due to replace EU Structural Funding
• Progress on devolution in England - the relaunched HCLG Committee inquiry analysing results so far, implementation strategies, and how the benefits of devolution can be maximised
• reviews and elections - the first gateway review for mayors’ investment funds as well as eight mayoral elections expected in 2021
• infrastructure - the forthcoming National Infrastructure Strategy, new transport plans for mayoral authorities announced in the Budget, as well as development of the Transpennine main line and a new Northern Transport Acceleration Council

The discussion in detail:

• the Devolution White Paper:
  
  • the outlook - priorities, timing and scope, and examining progress and what can be learned from devolution deals across England at different stages of development
  • collaboration - strategies, models and incentives for local authorities working together to support local economies
  • shaping future devolution deals - priorities for investment, and options for budgetary control and decision-making powers
  • local involvement in national responses - what more might be needed to support local responses to crises and to bring local leaders into national response planning
• coordination and collaboration:
  
  • tailored approaches - how local communities have adapted public health and economic recovery strategies to local needs
  • Local Industrial Strategies - linking further devolution with the third wave of LIS, and promoting collaboration between local authority and business leaders
• maximising economic impact:
  
  • delivery of services - strategies for making the most of support provided through devolution and growth deals
  • recovery - the role of regional economies in supporting national economic resurgence from the pandemic
  • finance - attracting investment into English regions and utilising the potential of the Shared Prosperity Fund
  • the workforce - ensuring local skills provision meets employer need and lifting productivity levels and responding to changes in working patterns and processes
• local infrastructure: 
  
  • priorities and policy support - enhancing local infrastructure in the context of a range of government plans for regeneration and economic recovery
  • transport - the five-year plans for combined authorities, the National Bus Strategy expected later this year, and prospects for reversal to service cuts
  • digital - with major investment into improving gigabit-capable broadband connections in areas across the UK
  • work and the new normal - what infrastructure is required to support changes in ways of working and economic behaviour following the pandemic
• the COVID-19 crisis - moving forward:
  
  • continued effective delivery of services - what immediate support do local and combined authorities need, as mayors across the country warn of risk of insolvency
  • supporting economic recovery - moving forward from the pandemic, and adapting to changes in behaviour and service delivery
  • future crisis situations and role of combined authorities and metro mayors - what the experience of COVID-19 means for the development and implementation of regional responses going forward

Policy officials attending:

Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places have been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons, and officials from BEIS; the Cities and Local Growth Unit; HM Treasury; MHCLG; the Cabinet Office; HM Revenue & Customs; the National Audit Office; the Office of Government Property; the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation; the Crown Prosecution Service; DCMS; Defra; the Department for Education; the Department for International Trade; the Department for Transport; the DWP; the Environment Agency; the MHCLG; the Office for Product Safety and Standards; the Office for National Statistics; and the Welsh Government. Also due to attend are representatives from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council; Canal & River Trust; City & Guilds; Clackclose Hundred CBS; Colne Housing Society; Connected Places Catapult; Copper Consultancy; Cornwall Council; D2N2 LEP; Enterprise M3 LEP; Essex County Council; Hertfordshire Adults & Family Learning Service; Jacobs; KPMG; Lancashire County Council; Lancashire Enterprise Partnership; MKC Training Services; NCFE; NFU; Northern Gas Networks; Northumberland County Council; Oxford Civic Society; Pinsent Masons; Qube Qualifications and Development; Savills; Scape Group; Sheffield City Council; Tendring District Council; The Careers and Enterprise Company; This is Gravity; University of Bath; University of Derby; University of Leeds; University of the Arts London; University of York and Warwick Economics & Development.

A press pass has been reserved by a representative from Voice Britannia.

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 will consider the future for housing design and delivery in the UK - and priorities for addressing poor quality housing design.

The discussion is bringing together stakeholders with key policy officials who are due to attend from MHCLG; BEIS; Homes England; the Cabinet Office; HMRC; Defra; DfT; DHSC; DIT; the Department for Infrastructure, NI; The Scottish Government and the Welsh Government.

The discussion at a glance:

• priorities - improving the quality, sustainability and energy efficiency of homes as proposed within the Future Homes Standard
• the impact of wider government policy including the Planning White Paper, Social Housing White Paper, and the PM’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution
• implementation - issues, practicalities and next steps for the National Design Guide and the National Model Design Code
• housing developments - their role as part of well-designed places, the development of local guidelines and ensuring access to greenspace
• MMC and promoting new ways of working - next steps for improving the delivery and design of new homes, and reduce costs, as the industry recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic

The agenda:

• Key issues for ensuring high-quality design and takeaways from the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission
• Improving the quality of homes and implementing the National Design Code
• Creating well-designed places - developing local guidance, promoting more beautiful and sustainable developments, improving energy efficiency, and implementing the Future Homes Standard
• The role of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and its potential to address challenges facing the housing sector
• Prioritising design capability and capacity for MMC delivery
• Accelerating the delivery of off-site construction methods
• Assessing the role of MMC and new innovative methods in meeting housing demand across all tenures

Areas for discussion:

• Quality and aesthetics of new developments - assessing the new development and planning framework put forward by the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission
• The National Design Guide - practical considerations for developers, local government, investors and other stakeholders in meeting the 10 characteristics the Guide sets out around design, functionality, safety and accessibility, sustainability, and nurturing a sense of community
• Local authorities - what more can be done to support them when developing individual design codes, and how best to ensure and support the development of well-designed places
• The legacy of COVID-19 - how it is likely to affect considerations for planning and design into the future, and what it means for developers, local authorities, home buyers and other stakeholders
• The impact of provisions in the Planning White Paper, Social Housing White Paper, and the PM’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution including around speeding up the planning process, improving the quality of homes and access to greenspace and on decarbonizing heat from housing
• Modern Methods of Construction - next steps for rolling out MMC, modular homes and wider off-site construction - looking at issues including:
  
  • what will be needed to realise its intended benefits, which include:
    
    • reducing costs and attracting investment
    • ensuring homes fit better with national and local design guides
    • enabling industry to work in different and sustainable ways
    • encouraging developers to take more interest in the community
  • development of skills and infrastructure design to increase MMC capacity in the UK
  • public engagement and overcoming pre-conceptions on quality associated with the pre-fab era
  • resolving barriers at the design stage, stemming from the different planning and construction processes involved in MMC compared to legacy approaches
  • how best to deal with any procurement difficulties in this relatively new market and to maximise environmental performance and sustainability

A scan of background and key developments:

• the Planning For the Future White Paper - and reforms to allow a range of commercial properties to be converted into housing without planning permission, and easier property extensions
• The Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution - from the PM, including making homes, greener, warmer and more energy efficient, and a target to install 600,000 heat pumps yearly by 2028
• ‘Permitted development’ homes to meet space standards - MHCLG announcement of homes given lighter touch consent needing to comply Nationally Described Space Standard on floorspace
• Raising accessibility standards for new homes - consultation on suitability and adaptability of homes for older and disabled people
• Boost for families wishing to build their own home - government review of self and custom builds, including procedures around councils granting permission, publishing data, and to consider the demand for land for self and custom-builds when making local planning decisions
• the National Design Guide - from MHCLG - with characteristics of well-designed places that work to create character, nurture a sense of community, and are sustainable
• a National Model Design Code - due later this year on key elements of successful design, following the Living with beauty: report of the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission for MHCLG
• Modern Methods of Construction working group: developing a definition framework - and appointment of Mark Farmer as the Champion for Modern Methods of Construction
• The charter for social housing residents: social housing white paper - which outlines in part plans to:
  
  • review the Decent Homes Standard
  • increase the supply of new and beautiful social homes
  • bring forward a new Framework of Green Infrastructure Standards to help local authorities, developers and communities to improve green infrastructure, including greenspace provision
• Building for a Healthy Life - new design guidance from NHS England backed by Homes England for new housing development plans incorporate how best to encourage healthier lifestyles
• the Future Homes Standard - aimed at increasing the energy efficiency requirements for new homes
• the Building Safety Bill - with wide-ranging changes designed to improve building and fire safety, including the creation of a new Building Safety Regulator
• the Environment Bill - which includes provisions to ensure biodiversity net gain in new housing developments

Policy officials attending:

Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places have been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons, and representatives from MHCLG; BEIS; Defra; the Cabinet Office; HM Revenue & Customs; Homes England; the Department for International Trade; the Department for Transport; the Department for Infrastructure, NI; the DHSC; the Geospatial Commission; the Health and Safety Executive; The Scottish Government and the Welsh Government.

Overall, we expect speakers and attendees to be a senior and informed group including Members of both Houses of Parliament, senior government and regulatory officials involved in this area of policy, as well as from representatives of the house building and wider construction sector, along with their partners, suppliers and customers; local authorities and community groups; lawyers, investors and financial analysts; charities, and advocacy and consumer groups, academics and commentators; 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

***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***
This conference is examining the future for building regulations in England, assessing next steps for improving the safety and standards of buildings, and the implementation of the new regulatory framework.

The discussion is bringing stakeholders together with parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Lords and the House of Commons Library, and policy officials from MHCLG; the HSE; BEIS; the CCC; Defra; the Government Legal Department; HMRC; the Law Commission; and the Welsh Government.

The discussion at a glance:

• priorities for the Draft Building Safety Bill - and improving support for residents and their confidence in building regulation
• implementing the new regulatory system
• improving safety across a building’s life cycle, strengthening accountability and responsibility, improving industry competence
• examples of best practice and where collaboration between industries has worked most effectively

Relevant developments and background:

• the Draft Building Safety Bill - with plans to introduce a new Building Safety Regulator as part of the Health and Safety Executive
• the Fire Safety Bill currently before Parliament
• the Planning for the future White Paper - setting out proposals to reform England’s current system
• Raising accessibility standards for new homes - current government consultation ensuring that homes are suitable for elderly and disabled people
• the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and the Independent Review into Building Regulations and Fire Safety - conducted by Dame Judith Hackitt
• Application of building regulations where additional storeys are provided to existing buildings - MHCLG’s additional information for local authorities on the fast track approval process for homeowners who intend to extend their homes and changes to the Manual to the Building Regulations following Dame Judith’s enquiry

Key areas for discussion:

• the future of building regulations - next steps following the government response to Dame Judith Hackitt’s independent review - assessing priorities and next steps for:
  
  • the Building Safety Regulator - including its decision-making responsibilities at key points during design, construction, occupation and refurbishment of buildings
  • accountability - including the impact of the introduction of an Accountable Person and plans for a building safety manager to be appointed for every high-rise building in the country
  • the Fire Safety Bill - and what more could be needed to improve safety and identify risk earlier and in engaging and working with fire services
  • concerns of residents, councils and industry - and whether more is needed to be done to accelerate changes to the regulatory system
• industry competence and compliance - priorities for improvement - with the Future of Building Control Working Group calling for:
  
  • simplification - including unifying building control legislation, process and procedures
  • governance - an independent designated body to oversee professional registration and organisational audit
  • a new competence framework - to cover all persons working in building control, including those working on higher risk buildings
  • a code of conduct - for all Building Control Bodies and professionals, and career structure to set clear expectations of competence across the building control sector
• safety across a building’s life cycle - tackling the challenges for improving resident safety, including:
  
  • options for regulation and policy - ensuring that building safety regulations are followed along the various stages of design, construction, occupation, and maintenance
  • developing Resident Engagement Strategies - and what more can be done to ensure that residents feel safe in their homes
  • thresholds - such heights for the combustible cladding and plans to provide sprinkler systems in all new blocks of high-rise residential buildings over 11m
  • the Grenfell Tower Inquiry - learning the lessons, and examining phase 1 recommendations and its ongoing phase 2

The agenda:

• Building regulations - the current landscape and priorities going forward
• The new regulatory framework and priorities for the Building Safety Regulator - local authority enforcement, industry compliance and competence, risk assessment and ensuring safety
• Implementation challenges for improving safety across a building’s life cycle
• Next steps for policy and the Building Safety Bill

Policy officials attending:

Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places have been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Lords and the House of Commons Library, and officials from MHCLG; the Health and Safety Executive; BEIS; the Committee on Climate Change; Defra; the Government Legal Department; HM Revenue & Customs; the Law Commission; and the Welsh Government.

Overall, we expect speakers and further attendees to be an informed group including leaders from local government, Members of both Houses of Parliament, senior government officials from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and other relevant departments, together with representatives from local authorities, combined authorities, housing associations, developers, the construction and construction products sector, architecture, business, skills, infrastructure, lawyers, academics, think tanks, environmental organisations, residents groups, those who work in energy efficiency, fire safety, the independent and third sectors, and others concerned with the issues discussed - together with reporters from the national and trade 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

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

This conference will discuss the future for social security and welfare reform in England - focusing on the rolling out of Universal Credit and the impact of COVID-19 on the social security system.

The agenda:

• Key and emerging issues for social security in England
• Rolling out universal credit - lessons from pilot programmes, implementation issues, migration from the legacy benefits, and supporting councils and recipients
• Ensuring value for money from Universal Credit
• The experience of claiming Universal Credit as a disabled person - what works and what doesn’t: a case study
• Adapting the social security system to meet future challenges
• Assessing the response to COVID-19 and what it means for the future of the social security system:
  
  • The impact of COVID-19 on the UK economy and the demand for social security
  • Delivering a wider social security system that works for the most vulnerable
  • Supporting those with no recourse to public funds during the pandemic
  • Devolution and social security, and the impact of different approaches to reducing hardship

The discussion in detail:

• COVID-19
  
  • implications - the impact on the UK economy and means what it for the future of the welfare system
  • the social security system response - particularly with regard to Universal Credit and Statutory Sick Pay, with an increase in claimants as a result of the pandemic 
  • supporting affected groups - effectiveness for people having to quarantine during the pandemic and the self-employed, carers, parents, the long-term sick and people with disabilities
  • what has been learned? - issues and gaps that have emerged, how they are being addressed, and what examples of best practice can be taken forward for the future
  • no recourse to public funds - the position of affected individuals during the pandemic
  • policy coordination - how the system has worked alongside wider support packages announced during the pandemic such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Plan for Jobs scheme, and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme - and the impact of changes in these packages on the benefit system
• devolved council powers - Decisions on levels and scope of Council Tax reduction schemes and the design of local hardship programmes following the abolition of the national Social Fund:
  
  • how local authorities have responded
  • the impact of the different approaches
  • following Council Tax Reduction Schemes research recently published by the House of Commons Library
• rolling out Universal Credit - with the planned date for full implementation of Universal Credit delayed further to 2024:
  
  • what has been learned - from implementation, and experience of councils and recipients, to inform the next stage of rollout
  • delivering full implementation - with ‘natural migration’ slowing, what further steps are needed for rollout to be on time and how well is the migration from legacy benefits being managed
  • impact - implications for stakeholders such as housing associations and on those who are in receipt of benefit of Universal Credit and moves to direct payments
  • VFM - what more needs to be done to ensure the system delivers value for money and to reduce fraud in advances, in light of issues outlined by the NAO
  • refining the framework - challenges for implementing a system that works for and supports both those in receipt of benefit and those who are charged with its distribution

A scan of relevant developments:

• Universal Credit - full rollout of being delayed till 2024 and the concept of natural migration to the new system
• COVID-19 - government’s response to the pandemic and Social Security Advisory Committee concerns that the benefit cap can block the full value of the additional support in some cases with the Work and Pensions Secretary’s statement that there are no plans to change the benefit cap or suspend the shared accommodation rate
• eligibility criteria - DWP’s newly presented information for individuals whether they are able to claim universal credit and access specific support schemes and benefits
• Council Tax Reduction Schemes ­- recently published House of Commons Library Briefing Paper with New Policy Institute research on implementation of Schemes by local authorities
• Universal Credit advances fraud - NAO’s report including on how it has been tackled by government and options for future mitigation
• The economics of Universal Credit - House of Lords inquiry looking at the benefit’s design and how well it reflects the realities of low-pay employment as well its impacts on personal income insurance, housing, childcare, training and levels of employment, job search activity, and poverty levels
• Providing school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - government extending the voucher scheme for free school meals following the campaign led by Marcus Rashford
• the Plan for Jobs - setting out a series of phased measures designed to support the retention and creation of jobs - including a new £2bn Kickstart Scheme aimed at creating thousands of subsidised jobs for those aged 16-24 who are currently claiming universal credit and at risk of long-term unemployment

Policy officials attending:

Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places have been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons Library and the House of Commons, and officials from the DWP; MHCLG; DHSC; HM Revenue & Customs; and the Office for Budget Responsibility. Also due to attend are representatives from the Camberley Alzheimer Cafe CIO; Christians Against Poverty; Church Of England; Citizens Advice Staffordshire North and Stoke on Trent; Citizens Advice Woking; City, Hackney and Waltham Forest Mind; Disabled People Against Cuts; KCIL; National Education Union; National Federation of ALMOs; National Ugly Mugs; The Community Housing Group; University of Bristol and University of Oxford.

Press passes have been reserved by representatives from the Disability News Service; The Guardian and Voice Britannia.

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 will assess the next steps for improving economic growth in the Western Gateway.

The agenda includes keynote contributions from key central Government officials, and council leaders and LEPs across the Gateway.

Delegates will discuss:

• the next steps for the Gateway
• the challenges and opportunities it offers
• what will be needed to achieve its aims for economic growth and recovery
• priorities for the full vision document for the partnership to be released following the completion of an Independent Economic Review later in this year
• prospects for realising the Gateway’s ambitions to add more than £56bn to the UK economy by 2030 and to contribute to national net-zero objectives

The discussion follows the Gateway’s launch last year - and the release of its prospectus which includes strategic priorities for the region:

• innovation
• connectivity
• a coordinated approach to international trade and investment

The discussion in detail:

• collaboration to develop the Western Gateway:
  
  • priorities - key areas for coordination and collaboration between local authorities and their local economies, central government, and other key stakeholders
  • strategies - facilitating joint working and the development of the stronger links the region needs
  • coordination - developing greater complementarity between existing growth projects, expertise and local priorities
• economic growth and development in the region:
  
  • COVID-19 - the way forward for promoting economic growth and development across the Western Gateway region as the economy recovers from the impact of the pandemic
  • spreading the benefits - how to maximise the impact of the Western Gateway on local economies throughout the region and priorities for a joint regional approach
  • joining up policy - linking the work of the Gateway with City Deals and Local Industrial Strategies and other ongoing initiatives for economic growth in the region
• developing manufacturing and high-tech industry:
  
  • investment and support - what more is needed from policymakers and the private sector
  • the workforce - priorities for attracting and developing skills to support key industries
  • infrastructure - development priorities for supporting the region’s industrial base
• research and development:
  
  • the region’s profile - enhancing the position of the South-West of England and South Wales as a hub for research and development
  • research-orientated universities and institutions - assessing and delivering the support they need
  • the private sector and academic research institutions - the way forward for strengthening existing ties
  • growing the funding base for research in the region
• inward investment and international trade:
  
  • international trade and inward investment - strategies for growth
  • international profile and reputation - how can this be developed to support the Western Gateway’s competitive position as a target for investment and industrial development
• connectivity and infrastructure:
  
  • key infrastructure requirements - priorities for ensuring that the region taps into government’s agenda for infrastructure, levelling up, and widening growth and regeneration
  • transport - including road and rail links, and looking at:
    
    • the role of the Sub National Transport Body, and what more might be needed from policymakers, regulators and industry to develop greater connectivity for the region
    • the golden hour target for journey times throughout the region - next steps for achieving this Western Gateway aim and improving cross-border rail connectivity
  • digital - rollout of full fibre broadband, as well as 5G networks - and the importance of digital connectivity to the wider economic development of the area

Gateway developments at a glance:

• Plans for a new £120m mainline train station between Cardiff and Newport, aimed at creating 6,000 jobs, being prepared to be submitted to the UK Government later this year
• Newport East MP, Jessica Morden, calling on the UK Government to support the Western Gateway project
• A report by Newport City Council outlining the project’s key potential benefits, including making transport in the region more efficient through a golden hour Western Gateway smart ticket
• An interim report to be published this autumn, which will highlight obstacles to development as well as immediate opportunities for investment
• The Western Gateway Sub-National Transport Body publishing its Draft Strategic Transport Plan 2020-2025, outlining aims in the next five years and longer-term, including the introduction of four Strategic Corridor Partnerships Groups providing connectivity between a number of economically dynamic cities and towns

The agenda:

• Priorities for driving forward the Western Gateway - collaboration, coordination and supporting economic growth
• The role of Local Enterprise Partnerships in supporting growth across the region and linking developments with existing growth plans and Local Industrial Strategies
• The way forward for developing and supporting industry, enterprise, and research and development in the Western Gateway region
• Key central government priorities for the Western Gateway:
  
  • Developing the South-West of England and South Wales as an economic region - fostering effective partnerships between central and local government
  • Promoting trade and inward investment and developing the Western Gateway’s international profile

Policy officials attending:

Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places have been reserved by officials from MHCLG; BEIS; the Cabinet Office; the Department for Transport; DCMS; Defra; the Department for International Trade; the Development Bank of Wales; HM Revenue & Customs; the Home Office; the Intellectual Property Office; the Office for Product Safety and Standards; Transport for Wales; the Welsh Government and the Welsh Revenue Authority. Also due to attend are representatives from A36/A350 Corridor Alliance; BCP Council; Bristol Airport; Bristol City Council; BT; Business in Focus; Cardiff University; CFMS; Connected Property Investment; Frazer-Nash Consultancy; Furrer+Frey GB; Gloucestershire County Council; Hoare Lea; Investec; Mandix; N-Gaged Training; NCFE; North Somerset Council; NPTC Group of Colleges; Optare Group; PwC; Recycling Technologies; Research and Enterprise Division, University of Bristol; Stantec UK; Tata Steel UK; This is Gravity; Transport for New Homes; UK Hydrographic Office and WiFi SPARK.

Press passes have been reserved by representatives from the Lloyd's List; The MJ and ZDNet.

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 examines key issues, priorities and next steps for the UK charity sector.

The discussion at a glance:

• the pandemic - the sector’s response to the impact of COVID-19 on those it serves, and priorities for its own recovery and sustainability
• trust - and communicating the value of the sector following the Value of the Charity Sector report
• the regulatory landscape - and navigating it post-GDPR

The discussion in detail:

The impact of the pandemic

• the sector’s response - innovation, learning from the ways services have been maintained to provide support through the health, social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak
• sustainability - looking at the long term, including
  
  • support during the crisis - assessing its effectiveness and options going forward, with the DCMS Select committee Government warning of it not being enough to prevent closure of charities
  • international aid charities - their prospects with the majority ineligible for government-related funding during the COVID-19 crisis
  • Gift Aid - calls from a coalition of charities and sector bodies it to be temporarily increased
  • a changing environment for fundraising - looking at priorities and strategies for meeting the possibly long-lasting challenges into the future
• the regulatory response - including the approach and guidance in supporting charities and maintaining standards during the pandemic, including the guidance from the Charity Commission
• volunteering - progress following the Government’s call for volunteers as part of its pandemic response, and maximising the ongoing role that it can play in communities
• preparing for possible further waves - what has been learned that can be applied going forward in the face of resurgence of the virus

Policy and regulation

• the Fundraising Regulator - looking ahead as it works on a strategic plan beyond 2021
• the Civil Society Strategy - three years into its ten year vision, how effective has it been in bringing together charities, social enterprises, social investors, community groups and businesses
• the Charity Commission’s Value of the Charity Sector report - a year on from publication
• compliance - the impact of the Fundraising Regulator’s updated Code of Fundraising Practice - and guidance on statements, Charity Commission expectations, and audits and independent examiners
• safeguarding -  assessing progress, with the online portal giving guidance for charities on reporting safeguarding allegations and concerns, government funding to develop safeguarding training

Data protection

• GDPR and the Data Protection Act - key issues and the experience of the charity sector since implementation
• the emerging landscape - with the post-Brexit transition period due to end later this year

Innovation in fundraising

• technology, data and social media platforms - assessing their use, with shops, attractions, and charity-run venues closed and fundraising events cancelled through the pandemic
• CAST - examining collaborations between charitable organisations and the Centre for the Acceleration of Social Technology (CAST) to maximise opportunities presented by data collection and use, in light of the recent £4.95m digital fund launch

The agenda:

• The role of charities within the Civil Society Strategy and approaches to responding to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Funding for charities during COVID-19, supporting smaller charities, innovative ways of adapting and meeting demand, and looking ahead to the environment for charities post-COVID-19
• Building trust in the charity sector and measuring and communicating the value the sector provides to society
• Priorities for encouraging volunteering - and the role of volunteers in the charity response to COVID-19
• Navigating the regulatory landscape post-GDPR
• Key priorities going forward for the regulation of charities - the view from Scotland
• Improving safeguarding standards, reporting procedures, and the protection of vulnerable groups
• Priorities for fundraising regulation: protecting the public and supporting the vital work of fundraisers
• Charity fundraising and the impact of COVID-19 - responding to the needs of charities across the third sector and those they serve, learning from innovation during the pandemic, and priorities for fundraising engagement into the future

Policy officials attending:

Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places have been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Lords, and a range of officials from DMCS, as well as from The Information Commissioner’s Office; the Home Office; and OFCOM.

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 will assess priorities and next steps for regeneration across London.

The discussion at a glance:

• the forthcoming new London Plan - the way forward for implementing strategies for increasing economic development, reducing inequalities, and tackling deprivation
  
  • with keynote contributions from BEIS and the GLA
• the major Planning for the future white paper - assessing the impact on London, as the Government consults on its proposals, including:
  
  • reform of local plans
  • an Infrastructure Levy to replace current developer contributions
  • zero carbon ready homes to prevent future retrofitting
    
    • with London councils’ concerns around the role of local authorities in government’s plans for a zoning system, quality and affordable housing, and reducing carbon emissions
• COVID-19 - looking at progress and priorities for economic, health and social recovery in London and tackling ongoing economic and social disruption
• local regeneration - supporting the key enablers across London
• infrastructure project delivery - including in housing and transport
• economic growth corridors - and expanding regeneration outside London

The agenda:

• Key priorities for the London Plan and regeneration - improving housing delivery, infrastructure development, and adapting to changes in behaviour following the pandemic
• Supporting economic recovery across the capital
• Latest thinking on the London Plan and priorities for designing local development strategies - supporting business growth, healthy town centres, and improving quality of life
• Utilising Opportunity Areas and addressing the challenges for the development of growth corridors - housing capacity, investment, infrastructure and connectivity
• Delivering major infrastructure projects across London to improve connectivity and support local regeneration

The discussion in detail:

Driving local regeneration

Developing strategic plans - including in the context of London’s Industrial Strategy:

• support for SMEs
  
  • including the work of the London Economic Action Partnership in direct project funding, debt finance, and schemes for innovation
• local plans - looking at tailored approaches to regeneration such as through the Mayor’s initiatives on high streets
  
  • stronger partnerships - between local authorities, businesses and communities
  • public spaces - priorities for improvements to that support quality of life
• employment - integrating skills and job opportunities with support for regeneration
  
  • collaboration - with local schools and colleges for skills development
  • improving partnerships - involving employers and local stakeholders, to take advantage of the Skills for Londoners Capital Fund as it nears the end of its programme

COVID-19

Economic recovery - including priorities for the London Transition Board and the London Recovery Board:

• safe re-opening - supporting economic recovery while also protecting vulnerable groups and containing the spread of the virus
• supporting small-scale businesses and local communities adversely affected by the pandemic, through initiatives such as the London Resilience Fund
• coordination - across boroughs and other the public sector bodies, as well as businesses and local communities
• national leadership and inclusive growth -  London’s role in helping lead recovery and regeneration across the south east and the rest of the UK - including supporting key construction projects

Infrastructure and regeneration

• transport:
  
  • the Old Oak Common project - its super-hub station connecting to HS2 and the Elizabeth Line, and its potential for stimulating new developments in West London
  • new rail and intermodal links - increasing regional and city-wide connectivity for businesses, and for improving access to employment
  • large projects - priorities for developments attracting regional investment and construction of housing, retail spaces, and public areas
• housing - delivering the London Housing Strategy and new and affordable housing:
  
  • the new London Plan - next steps with:
    
    • housing provision under discussion between the Mayor and Central government
    • guidance on Good Quality Homes for all Londoners due for consultation soon
  • engagement of key stakeholders - including construction companies, housing developers, and local boroughs, to deliver fresh housing capacity
  • Opportunity Areas - and accelerating construction on brownfield sites for housing as well as further transport links
• Redevelopment:
  
  • large-scale projects - such as Battersea Power Station:
  • opportunities - strategies for regenerating communities, stimulating housing construction, and increasing local economic activity
  • the Good Growth Fund - the Mayor’s regeneration programme supporting community based project

Economic growth corridors and regeneration outside London

• the Lower Thames Crossing project - new road infrastructure connecting the London economy more closely with those in Kent and Essex, and throughout the region
• partnerships - matching physical connectivity with strengthened relationships between regional businesses, accelerating the flow of ideas, capital and projects

Policy officials attending

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

It is certainly the case with this conference. Places have already been reserved by officials from the Greater London Authority; the Cabinet Office; MHCLG; BEIS; the Department of Transport; the Infrastructure & Projects Authority; the National Infrastructure Commission; DCMS; Defra; HM Revenue & Customs; the Crown Commercial Service; 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 future for the Northern Powerhouse - as the Government reemphasises the importance of its levelling up agenda and infrastructure development as part of the economic recovery from COVID-19.

The discussion at a glance:

• delivery of local industrial strategies
• infrastructure and funding for the region
• developing skills and R&D capability
• environmental policy
• economic recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

The discussion in detail:

Delivery of local industrial strategies (LIS)

• coordination - linking the range of regional economic priorities across the North and supporting balanced economic growth
• collaboration - building the working relationships with neighbouring regions, such as North Wales and the Midlands
• the West Yorkshire devolution deal - next steps moving forward

Funding for the region

• COVID-19 - supporting economic recovery for businesses and individuals as part of the pandemic response
• the UK Shared Prosperity Fund - priorities for the North
• Town Deals - regeneration and maximising benefit for communities selected as part of the Towns Fund
• inward investment - strategies for attracting wider backing from investors, businesses and others

Developing skills and R&D capability in the North

• deepening partnerships - strategies for promoting joint working between universities and industry
• skills alignment - linking the delivery of education and training with what businesses need

Environmental policy

• the North of England and net zero  - the role of the region in the national move to bear down on carbon emissions and improve natural capital
• NP11 - next steps for the group of 11 of the region's LEPs, covering 76 local authorities, following their Northern Powerhouse: Energy and Clean Growth report outlining the potential for reducing the region’s carbon emissions by 50% against 2005 levels by 2032

Infrastructure priorities:

• Transport:
  
  • HS2 - its impact on Northern connectivity following the Oakervee Review and government commitments to delivering Phase 2b in full
  • implementation priorities - implementing phase 2b and Northern Powerhouse Rail
  • new transport plans - for mayoral authorities
  • arrangements for running the North’s rail services, the future for Northern Rail, and priorities for reopening lines
• Housing:
  
  • the construction corridor - plans to make the North of England a world leader in Modern Methods of Construction and develop environmental-friendly hjousing between Leeds and Liverpool
  • impact of national housing policy on new developments - including MHCLG’s plans to introduce a new National Model Design Code and extend the Affordable Homes Programme
• Digital:
  
  • improving connectivity - priorities for expanding mobile coverage, the roll out of full-fibre broadband, and tackling the digital divide as more and more people work from home and remotely
  • 5G - looking ahead as government outlines more support for the 5G testbed programme, and as Liverpool 5G testbed continues its work aimed at reducing the digital divide

Why this is relevant to discuss now - the context:

• new policies impacting the North - developments in devolution and mayoral authorities, research and development, affordable housing and digital infrastructure
• a new Northern Powerhouse growth board - to support the Government’s levelling up agenda
• economic recovery in the wake of COVID-19
  
  • the Northern Powerhouse Partnership five point plan for government support, prioritising:
    
    • training - for those who have lost their jobs or left school
    • extra teaching - for children who have fallen behind during the crisis
    • employment - support for the growth of green energy jobs
    • infrastructure - transport and digital infrastructure projects
  • the Post-Pandemic Economic Growth super-inquiry by the BEIS Committee - examining the Government’s levelling up agenda and identifying what reformative measures are required at the local, regional and national level to help businesses and the economy thrive in the future
• Funding:
  
  • Supporting Bus and Light Rail Services - part of the government programme for the region’s response to COVID-19, aimed at protecting and increasing transport services
  • the UK Shared Prosperity Fund - designed to replace EU Structural Funding as a tool to reduce regional inequalities; supporting collaboration between neighbouring regions
  • Town Deals - with 45 places in the Northern Powerhouse named as named as beneficiaries, each allowed to bid for £25m funding
  • the West Yorkshire devolution deal - to include a metro mayor, £1.1bn for investment over the next 30 years, and increased control over local services
  • the South Yorkshire devolution deal - being set for approval in Parliament, with the region due to receive £900m in investment over the next 30 years and the metro mayor being granted new powers of control over transport, strategic planning and skills
  • levelling up research and development -  with a government commitment of an extra £22bn in this area by 2024/2025
• Transport:
  
  • coordination - a new Northern Transport Acceleration Council to improve communication between local government in the North and ministers
  • trunk roads - details of major upgrades and the preferred route for the £1bn A66 Northern Trans-Pennine scheme released by Highways England following public consultation
  • rail:
    
    • Trans Pennine - the Transport Secretary announcing £589m for the main line between Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester
    • digitisation - the East Coast Main Line announced as the first rail link to use digital systems in place of conventional signalling following a £350m investment from DfT
    • future needs - the National Infrastructure Commission’s Rail Needs Assessment examining HS2 integration with other rail investments in the North such as Northern Powerhouse Rail
    • connectivity - government funding to develop proposals to reopen rail lines that were closed as part of the Beeching cuts

The agenda:

• Strategic priorities for the Northern Powerhouse and its role in economic recovery from the pandemic
• Delivering balanced economic growth across the Powerhouse - supporting communities, key sectors, and individuals, and attracting businesses and investment:
  
  • Balancing regional economic priorities, attracting investment, and implementing Local Industrial Strategies
  • Tackling the productivity gap, developing skills, harnessing new technology, and utilising growing opportunities for business
  • Strategies for establishing world-leading R&D facilities across the Powerhouse
  • Achieving success across the Powerhouse in progress towards net-zero emissions and priorities for improving natural capital
• Next steps for infrastructure development in the North - connectivity, value for money, and maximising the economic impact:
  
  • Future housing developments and creating a construction corridor
  • The future for rail infrastructure in the region - building trust in the network, linking with active travel schemes, and moving forward with Northern Powerhouse Rail
  • Priorities for HS2 - policy certainty, cost-efficient services, engaging with communities, and contribution to economic growth
  • Expanding digital infrastructure to support a change in working patterns and behaviour, improving the quality of service, and accelerating 5G rollout
• Priorities for the Northern Powerhouse moving forward

Policy officials attending:

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

It is certainly the case with this conference. Places have been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from the All Party Parliamentary Light Rail Group and the House of Commons, and officials from BEIS; MHCLG; the Cabinet Office; the Department for Transport; Homes England; the Office of Rail and Road; the National Infrastructure Commission; the DCMS; the Department for International Trade; the DHSC; the DWP; the Education and Skills Funding Agency; the Health & Safety Executive; Industrial Strategy Council; the Government Legal Department; the National Audit Office; the Office for Product Safety and Standards and the Welsh Government.

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 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 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

***Full conference taking place online***
This conference is examining the future for social housing in England.

The discussion is bringing together stakeholders with key policy officials who are due to attend from MHCLG; DWP; the HSE; HMRC; BEIS; DfT; and DIT.

The agenda:

• Key and emerging issues for social housing in England
• The Social Housing White Paper and priorities for the future regulation of social housing
• Improving the provision and quality of social housing - regulation, financial sustainability, tenant engagement and support and ensuring safety
• Making best use of land in delivering social housing
• Innovation in new social housing - design, delivery, funding and planning
• Priorities for implementing the White Paper on Social Housing and wider government policy

The discussion at a glance:

• implementing the Social Housing White Paper - looking at:
  
  • impact - on residents, and landlords and social housing providers
  • sector priorities - what actions and support will be required to put in place the measures envisaged in the White Paper
  • regulation - priorities for the the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) in fulfilling their new duties and responsibilities in setting standards and in other areas
  • regulatory coordination - how should the RSH, the HSE and the Building Safety regulator organise the information sharing and joint working being put forward in the White Paper
  • safety and security - the next steps needed on smoke and CO alarms, and on electrical and other areas of ensuring the safety of residents
  • landlord accountability - how the new requirements will affect landlords and the social housing market, and the practicalities of putting in place the support needed by residents
  • complaints - looking at best practice on communication and dispute resolution, as well as enforcement
  • quality - the role of landlords and other stakeholders beyond housing itself, in areas such as provision of green spaces and tackling anti-social behaviour
  • affordable housing - assessing the measures outlined on house building, shared ownership, design and finance for home buyers
• sector recovery - the support that is needed for social housing providers and the tenants they serve, and for the construction industry, to get back on track in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic
• planning - the impact of recently-announced reform to streamline the system on building more social homes in the areas where they are needed most
• safety and quality of social homes - with plans for a new Building Safety Regulator following the Building a safer future: proposals for reform of the building safety regulatory system consultation
• investment - further steps for attracting finance for new projects and learning from what works well in other sectors
• innovation and collaboration
  
  • new approaches - in design and other areas for delivering new homes which enhance the community, support healthy lives, protect biodiversity and meeting changes in demand
  • best practice in design, delivery and working with partners from housing associations and local authorities - and the role of MMC and off-site or modular construction

Key policy developments:

• The charter for social housing residents - the Social Housing White Paper putting forward a set of rights and expectations on behalf of residents, including:
  
  • safety and security
  • landlord accountability - as well as transparency on their performance in areas such as spending, repairs, complaints and safety
  • complaints - the right for them to be addressed fairly without undue delay, as well as access to redress through an ombudsman
  • respectful treatment - backed by a consumer regulator and improved consumer standards
  • contact - through regular landlord meetings, scrutiny panels or board membership, backed by government support for the skills needed by residents to enable them to effectively engage
  • quality - in homes themselves, their maintenance, and in the neighbourhood environment
  • opportunities for home ownership where possible
• the Planning For the Future White Paper - with an increased affordable housing threshold on smaller sites, zonal planning, new local design codes, and local authority housing delivery requirements
• the Draft Building Safety Bill - with wide-ranging changes designed to improve building and fire safety, including the creation of a new Building Safety Regulator
• the National Design Guide and planned National Model Design Code - aimed at producing homes that can enhance the community, promote healthy lives and support local biodiversity
• latest Quarterly survey from the Regulator of Social Housing - finding a financially strong sector in September largely unaffected by the Coronavirus pandemic
• 90,000 new social homes a year achievable with Government support - findings from the HCLG Select Committee as part of their Long-term delivery of social and affordable rented housing inquiry
• £3bn affordable housing guarantee scheme to be operated by Ara Venn - recently announced to provide cost-effective long-term loans to providers of affordable homes
• launch of prospectus inviting bids for the Affordable Housing Programme - being extended to safeguard affordable homes whose construction was stalled due to the pandemic, as well as a new £12bn settlement to start next year targeting the creation of approximately 180,000 new affordable homes

Policy officials attending:

Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places have been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons and officials from MHCLG; DWP; HM Revenue & Customs; BEIS; the Department for International Trade; the Department for Transport; and the Health and Safety Executive.

Overall, we expect speakers and attendees to be a senior and informed group including Members of both Houses of Parliament, senior government and regulatory officials involved in this area of policy, as well as from representatives from the construction industry and their partners and advisors, developers and landlords, tenant and citizen’s groups, charities and campaigning organisations, local authorities and planning specialists, buildings safety and legal specialists, investors, the wider business community, and social and academic commentators, together with 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 and transcript 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