Agenda: 24 Hours to Shape the Future of Local Government Join senior leaders to tackle the sector’s biggest challenges - through collaboration, insight and innovation.

Michael Burton, Editorial Director, The MJ Group.

The social care crisis continues to dog public services and local government's financial stability. Baroness Casey has been asked by the Prime Minister to come up with recommendations for reform. She joins a the Future Forum to give a candid overview of her progress and hear the views of the sector.

From local government reorganisation to rising pressures and an influx of new members, local authorities are facing a perfect storm of governance challenges.

Experienced local government lawyer and director of the Association of Monitoring Officers Rachel McKoy looks at how to steady the ship amid the storm. 

Government plans a wider, deeper devolution are changing the structure of democracy across the country. 

In this interactive session, Dr Simon Kaye will live survey Forum guests to give us a real-time view of the devolution progress.

For those facing local government reorganisation, the focus on moving to a 'safe and legal' new unitary that is fit for purpose, while continuing with the day job is all-encompassing. But what about the people?

Frontline staff will transfer, but what are the prospects for senior staff? Lawyer Mark Greenburgh explains the employment law you may need, while recruitment expert Toni Hall offers advice on where to build you career.

A panel discussion exploring lessons from the Brockmoor’s Net Zero Neighbourhood and the power of working together across sectors to deliver innovative, place-based solutions. This session will highlight collaborative approaches, real-world challenges, and impactful strategies enabling sustainable urban regeneration at the community level. Hear from experts and local leaders shaping Brockmoor’s energy transition through partnership and shared vision.

Find out abut the 2025 challenge here!

Heather Jameson, Editor, The MJ will introduce the event and chair the sessions of the day.

This year's local government finance settlement shifted the dial to match funding more closely with need and announced a 90% funding for SEND deficits. But what will it mean for local authorities and the wider public sector?

Kate Ogden will help you take a peak behind the curtain of the settlement to look at where the money is coming from, and what is will mean to council budgets.

As a secretary of state for communications in 2009-2010, John Denham oversaw the roll-out of Total Place, a series of place-based budget pilots aimed at joining up public services, while Helen Bailey was director of public services at the Treasury 2008-2011.

As the current government experiments with moves towards public reform - or Total Place 2.0, they will look at where the agenda is heading.