Working together
A report from the conference
On Friday 18 November 2011, a group of 110 people came together at City Hall in London to debate how we can deliver growth and localism. The event was designed to inspire people in leadership roles with the idea of working together to create more jobs and more homes. We wanted them to use their influence and authority to galvanize action.
Delegates were drawn in equal numbers from the voluntary, private and public sectors. They were encouraged to explore three issues - housing, employment, and collaboration – and generate practical ideas to take forward each agenda. The conversation was fuelled by a mixture of short speeches and facilitated discussion.
This report captures the headlines of their conversation grouped under three main headings: Enterprise, Infrastructure, Housing and Planning. There are nine key recommendations for action which emerged from the debate by delegates at their tables. These include strong calls to:
- Scale up apprenticeships dramatically
- Reform OJEU procurement rules
- Create space on new development for entrepreneurs
- Explain localism more fully
- Speed up the release of public land
- Invest in involving the community
The conference report also contains three of the speeches given on the day by Sir Robin Wales, Executive Mayor of Newham Council, Ravi Govindia, Leader of Wandsworth Council, and Tony Pidgley, Chairman of the Berkeley Group, alongside a list of the people who took part.
