President's Conference 2024: People make places

A warm welcome will greet you at the Socitm registration desk where you can sign in and receive your delegate pass. You’re then free to start networking as well as helping yourself to refreshments – including breakfast pastries.

Socitm President Mark Lumley will make us all welcome, run through the practical housekeeping, set the scene, share his thoughts and reflect upon his last 12 months in leading the organisation. Mark will then kick the conference off by introducing our first keynote speaker.

Mark Lumley, Director Digital, IT & Resilience, London Borough of Hounslow

What a fantastic start to day one. Gain key insights from Ian Thomas CBE, who will reveal how he leads the City of London Corporation. How does the organisation keep London’s unique Square Mile area a vibrant and thriving place while supporting a diverse and sustainable city? Join the session and take away actions for your organisation to strengthen connections, increase capacity and retain the character of your place.

Ian Thomas, Town Clerk & Chief Executive, City of London Corporation

Hema Patel & Tim Spiers at Oxfordshire County Council recently discussed what does good look like and how these challenges vary across different types of communities.

Tim Spiers, Director IT, Innovation, Digital and Transformation, Oxfordshire County Council.
Hema Patel, Senior IT Business Partner, Oxfordshire County Council.

Find out more about Socitm’s policy and research work that’s designed to be your virtual colleague; find support in collections of resources around AI et al; the latest training in the Leadership Academy and with alumni; and last but no means least the Place Insights offered by our partners Impera Analytics

Sam Smith, Director of Institute, Socitm
Pye Nyunt, Chief Executive Officer, IMPERA
William Barker, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), Socitm
Diana Rebaza,Senior Research Analyst, Socitm
Martin Ferguson, Policy and Research Director, Socitm
Aidan Matthews, Leadership Programme Manager, Socitm
Matthew Fraser, Technical Consultant, Socitm

It’s time to gather our thoughts from the morning sessions over refreshments and snacks. This is an opportunity to connect with fellow colleagues both from the public and private sector.

It’s amazing what is going on in Blackpool. The region is leading the way on renewable power.

Learn from Tony Doyle, Blackpool Council’s Head of IT Services, as he reveals the inside story on ‘Silicon Sands’ and the council’s drive to make the entire data centre industry more environmentally friendly.

You’ll take away insight on renewable power such as solar and wind and the positive reduction in carbon footprint, data centres being cooled using liquid immersion, and swimming pools being kept warm with waste data!

A fascinating pitch not to be missed.

Anthony Doyle, Head of IT Services, Blackpool Council

What does the private sector have instore for us today? Listen to Shaping cloud, HSO and Technology One who will help you get the best from working with commercial organisations

Shaping cloud, HSO, Technology one

Local government has always been people focused:

• Service delivery,
• Links to local geography and communities
• Regular elections

All add up to a sector that has communities at the forefront of what it does.

But there are obstacles to maintaining this unrelenting citizen focus. Increasing demands (as populations have grown and aged) combined with years of austerity have strained councils’ ability to deliver services.

The Next Generation Council builds on the significant digital transformation already completed. It provides a roadmap of how best practices can be combined with AWS Cloud technology to meet the expectations and needs of its citizens now. And in the future.

Jason Nemits, Enterprise Account Manager – Local Government, Amazon Web Services

Lead members are very welcome to join our Annual General Meeting (AGM). For all other delegates and partners you’re welcome to enjoy some catch-up time over lunch.

Our current president, Mark Lumley, will lead us through what Socitm has done with and for members over the last year. Then he’ll hand over to incoming president Carol Williams.

Mark Lumley, Director Digital, IT & Resilience, London Borough of Hounslow
Carol Williams, Director of transformation and digital, Walsall Council
Nadira Hussain, CEO, Socitm
David Bryant, Finance & Commercial Director, Socitm

We know how important these sections of a conference are. It’s time to make new connections, say hello to colleagues across the sector you’ve not seeen for some time and reflect on the morning’s programme over lunch. Keep the conversation going and enjoy further food for thought.

Lichfield is one of the finalists for Most Improved Council in the LGC Awards 2024. It’s chief executive Simon Fletcher will join us in Birmingham on the same day the awards ceremony takes place in London. Hear the inside story on the successes and lessons learned behind the council’s focus on staff engagement since October 2021. By October 2023, their efforts yielded remarkable results – staff satisfaction surging from 68% to 81%. Employee testimonials underscore their inclusive culture and receptive leadership. This transformation stands as a sector-leading model, demonstrating that, with the right leadership and a focus on staff well-being, positive change is attainable.

Simon Fletcher, Chief Executive, Lichfield District Council

This panel session will explore the characteristics of complex place-based problems facing local government and the kinds of approaches that can be taken to tackling them for the benefit of the people and communities that they serve.

Professor Matt Bellgard, Pro Vice-Chancellor Impact and Innovation, University of East London
Shailen Popat, Director MSc Public Management, University of Birmingham
Rhiannon Jones, Head of Civic, Associate Professor Civic Practice, University of Derby

Silktide publishes monthly accessibility ratings for UK councils (https://index.silktide.com/category/council-uk). The Top 30 councils have scores ranging from 98 to 100, out of 100. But what’s behind those numbers? What do they need to do (and keep doing) to meet accessibility and inclusivity targets. Meet the people doing the hard work.

Silktide and Hassle Inclusion

Robert Ling, Director of Transformation, North Yorkshire County Council

Another chance to network and compare notes from the afternoon sessions over refreshments and snacks.

Take away all the learnings and insights from this Microsoft session based on their feedback on AI’s role in local governance.

The Capstone Care Leavers Trust is a charitable organisation focusing on supporting young individuals ages 17-25 who have been in local authority care. Through grants, the CCLT assist care leavers in areas such as education, training and essential items like laptops or household goods. Their mission is to reduce social exclusion and enhance life opportunities for these young adults during their transition to independant living.

Zoe Greenwood, Manager, Capstone Care Leavers Trust

On behalf of us all Mark will reflect on a significant conference for Socitm and bring proceedings to a close.

Mark Lumley, Director Digital, IT & Resilience, London Borough of Hounslow

After an inspiring and thought-provoking day, it’s time to absorb all that information and unwind at our President’s Conference drinks reception

Whether you choose to carry on existing conversations or start fresh ones with new contacts, this is an opportunity to reflect and relax in a welcoming and friendly environment where catching up and connecting is key.

Our President’s dinner isn’t just about good food and great company. It’s also the time where we acknowledge and celebrate the hard-work, vision, delivery, best practice and personal achievements of digital leaders in the public sector.

In these most challenging times , peer appreciation and support are more important than ever. The President’s dinner is an opportunity to demonstrate how much our community, as a whole, values, recognises and appreciates the triumphs of individual members. This is why our President, President’s team and our partners have such pleasure in welcoming you to the evening.

A warm welcome will greet you at the Socitm registration desk where you can sign in and receive your delegate pass. You’re then free to start networking as well as helping yourself to refreshments – including breakfast pastries.

Carol will make us all welcome on our second and final day, run through the practical housekeeping, set the scene, share his reflections on all we’ve covered so far. This morning session will reflect on us and our organisations.

Carol Williams, Director of transformation and digital, Walsall Council

Delve into the minds of chief executives as they reveal the challenges and aspirations that keep them awake at night.

What does the private sector have instore for us today? Listen to Kerv and Simpson Associates who will help you get the best from working with commercial organisations.

Kerv l Simpson Associates

Netcall

It’s time to gather our thoughts from the morning sessions over refreshments and snacks. This is an opportunity to connect with fellow colleagues both from the public and private sector.

Following a period of evaluation and reflection, Local Digital are excited to share how they plan to lay the foundations for better local public services with a new vision and strategy.

Emily Sullivan, Head of Product, DLUHC
Katy Armstrong, Deputy Director for Digital Services, DLUHC

On day two of Place-Based Leadership is a session that’s titled ‘Being prepared for perpetual turbulent times; navigating through a VUCA/BANI environment’. VUCA stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. And it feels like a pretty accurate summary of so much going on right now. But against this uncertainty and with a general election coming next, you in our local governments have to carry on. And you do so together as part of your community, the Socitm community, the wider local public services community, the European local government community. All these overlapping circles of committed people are a powerful network of service dedicated to the vision of people make places.

Our new President will pick out the numerous highlights from the conference in her closing remarks. will also look forward to the year ahead, commenting on exciting plans for Socitm and the essential supportive community which makes up the society.

Carol Williams, Director of transformation and digital, Walsall Council

We know how important these sections of a conference are. It’s time to make new connections, say hello to colleagues across the sector you’ve not seen for some time and reflect on the morning’s programme over lunch. Keep the conversation going and enjoy further food for thought.