Day 1: Monday 25 November 2024
10.45 am Arrival, Registration and Meet the Sponsors
Refreshments available
11.15 am Welcome and Introductions
11:30 am Plenary: The role of a Combined Authority Mayor and the importance of governance and relationships across the constituent authorities
Speaker: Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands
12:15 pm Presentation from IIMC President, Lisa Garcia
12:20 pm Presentation from our Gold Sponsor, Civica
12.30 pm Lunch and Meet the Sponsors
1.45 pm Workshops
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion – what’s it like to be on the receiving end of me? – Mary Austin, AFTA Thought Training Consultants
- LLG, CIPFA and Solace Code of Practice on Good Governance for Local Authority Statutory Officers – Philip McCourt, Legal Director, Bevan Brittan LLP
- Out of Control? – Charlotte Cameron, Senior Democratic Services Officer, Peterborough City Council and Helen Mitchell, Senior Governance Consultant for the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny
- Professional Development Planning for Senior DSOs – Susan Biddle, ADSO Director of Training
2.45 pm Refreshments and Meet the Sponsors
Time to take a break with opportunities to network and visit the sponsor stands.
3.30 pm Plenary: Artificial Intelligence and Assistive Technology to improve outcomes for All
Speakers: Nadira Hussain, CEO Socitm, Sam Smith, Director of Socitm Institute and Matthew Turnbull, Democratic & Electoral Services Apprentice, Dorset Council
4.30 pm Closing Remarks
4.35 pm Meet your Regional Representatives
7.00 pm Drinks Reception and Raffle
The charities being supported this year through the raffle are the Lord Mayor of Coventry’s charities:
Carers Trust Heart of England and St Giles Trust
Raffle tickets are £1 each – Cash only. ADSO will match fund any monies raised through the raffle.
7.30 pm Dinner, Awards Evening and Disco
Three course dinner followed by the presentation of certificates to our completing Learners. Our 2024 ADSO Award winners will also be announced.
Day 2: Tuesday 26 November 2024
9.00 am Arrival
Refreshments available
9.30 am Question Time Panel
A panel of experts will discuss subjects chosen by you. Chaired by Peter Stanyon, Chief Executive, Association of Electoral Administrators (AEA).
Panel members: Helen Bennett, Executive Director of Policy & Governance, Lawyers in Local Government (LLG); Charlotte Eisenhart, ADSO Chief Executive Officer; Dr Thom Oliver, Senior Lecturer, University of the West of England (UWE); Councillor Keith Stevens, Chair, National Association of Local Councils (NALC)
10.45 am Refreshments and Meet the Sponsors
Network and visit our sponsor stands
11.15 am Facilitated Discussions
Choose to contribute to a group discussion led by a facilitator on the following topics:
- Open Surgery: Ask the experts – your opportunity to pose questions around any current burning issues to some experienced DSOs on hand to offer their experience and opinions.
- Political Balancing Act – political proportionality calculations and appointments to committees are typically undertaken under furious pressure by Heads of Service. This session will demystify and explain how political proportionality works and will include a practical exercise so that you can try it yourself!
- Local Democracy Week resources & Engaging young citizens – come and discuss what resources, materials or support ADSO could provide to help you engage with citizens in your local area during Local Democracy Week. We will also share some examples of activities for young citizens.
- Combined Authorities – explore the opportunities and challenges associated with devolution. Delegates’ can share practice and learning of establishing and supporting governance arrangements in combined authorities and offer advice to those embarking on a devolution journey.
- Remote Meetings & Proxy Voting: Government Consultation – a discussion to inform ADSO’s response to the current Government consultation, together with a discussion on how Councils will make the new regulations work in practice.
12.15 pm Lunch and Meet the Sponsors
1.15 pm Workshops
- Working in a Modern Democracy – Carl Whistlecraft, ADSO Non-Executive Director and Diane Sims, ADSO Director of Communications
- Public Abuse and Intimidation of Members and Officers: A Strategy for DSOs – Colin Copus, Emeritus Professor of local politics at the Department of Politics and Public Policy, De Montfort University, Visiting Professor at the University of Ghent and ADSO Non-Executive Director
- Fit for the future? Rethinking scrutiny and scrutiny support – Dave Mckenna, Independent Scrutiny Consultant
- Present Tense: Renewing and Modernising Local Governance – Paul Dossett, Partner and Head of local government and Guy Clifton, Director, Grant Thornton UK LLP
2.15 pm Refreshments ‘on the go’ will be available after the workshops and before the conference round up session.
2.30 pm Conference Round-up
A summary of conference highlights including feedback from the facilitated discussions and a preview of the 2025 conference in Liverpool & IIMC Symposium.
There will be a Prize draw of a free 2025 delegate place for those in attendance at this session.
3.30 pm Closing Remarks and Departure
ADSO Conference 2024
ADSO Conference and Awards 2024
Book your place
How to get to The Slate
Conference Terms and Conditions
extension: pdf