Local Government Finance Conference: Debt, Income and Commercial Strategy 2026

Previous Supporters Include

Overview

Agenda

• 9.30am

  Registration

• 9.50am

  Chair’s Opening Remarks

• 10.00am

  Keynote: Overview of Local Government Finance

  • Scene-setting on the current state of local government financial sustainability, drawing on recent NAO insights
  • Key pressures shaping the system, including SEND demand, home to school transport costs and wider service delivery challenges
  • The evolving landscape of devolution and its implications for funding, governance and local accountability
  • Developments in local audit, including the establishment of the Local Audit Office and what this means for transparency and oversight
  • A forward look at the sector, including reflections on reform and emerging structural changes

  Abdool Kara, Executive Leader, Local Services, National Audit Office (CONFIRMED)

  

• 10.20am

  Keynote: The National Scale of Local Authority Debt

  • Mapping the current scale and composition of debt across local authorities, including council tax arrears, rent, and other local charges
  • Analysing trends in debt growth over time and the key drivers behind rising local authority debt levels
  • Comparing debt profiles across regions to identify disparities, high-risk areas, and emerging pressure points
  • Evaluating the implications of growing debt burdens for local authority finances, service delivery, and long-term sustainability

  Sarah Green MP, Member of Public Accounts Committee (invited)

• 10.40am

  Questions and Answers

• 11.00am

  Comfort Break

• 11.20am

  Keynote: Rethinking Local Debt Recovery

  • Evaluating traditional enforcement-led approaches against preventative and early-intervention models in improving collection rates
  • Exploring how financial pressures on households are driving the need for more sustainable debt recovery practices
  • Highlighting case studies where councils have used data to improve outcomes and reduce escalation
  • Identifying opportunities for partnership working with advice services to support residents and reduce long-term arrears

  Cllr. Ethan Radford, Deputy Leader, Nottingham City Council (CONFIRMED)

  

• 11.40am

  Keynote: Navigating Funding Gaps in Local Government

  • Examining projected funding gaps driven by demand and cost pressures outpacing funding growth, with spending needs rising significantly faster than revenues
  • Exploring how councils are using Exceptional Finance Support to balance their budgets
  • Assessing the sustainability of current approaches given ongoing uncertainty in funding settlements
  • Considering how councils can transition from short-term mitigation to long-term financial resilience

  Nico Heslop, Director of Local government Finance, Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (invited)

• 12.00pm

  Questions and Answers

• 12.20pm

  Lunch Break

• 1.10pm

  Keynote: Diversifying Local Council Income

  • Exploring the shift from central government grants toward locally generated income
  • Assessing the risks and limitations of relying on local tax bases in areas with differing levels of economic capacity
  • Identifying innovative income generation strategies being adopted by councils to diversify revenue streams
  • Considering how income generation can align with place-based growth and service delivery priorities

  Rachael Sanders, Director of Finance, Herefordshire Council and Better Reporting Group, Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (invited)

• 1.30pm

  Case Study: Developing Commercialisation within Local Government

  • Exploring how councils are developing commercial arms, LATCos and pop-up ventures, including the governance and political buy-in required
  • Examining how authorities are addressing commercial capability gaps, through recruitment and local partnerships
  • Discussing the role of pilot and pop-up initiatives in testing new income streams, and how these can develop into long-term financial models
  • Identifying what separates successful commercial ventures from failed council trading companies

  Genine Whitehorne, Director, Commercial, Change and Portfolio Delivery, City of London Corporation (invited)

• 1.50pm

  Questions and Answers

• 2.10pm

  Breakout Networking: Increasing Income in your Council

  Use this session to discuss challenges in generating income in your local authority and what has worked for your organisation with other attendees in small breakout networking groups.

• 2.40pm

  Comfort Break

• 3.00pm

  Keynote: Balancing Income Generation with Cost of Living

  • Examining how cost-of-living is impacting residents’ ability to pay council tax, rents and local charges, and the knock-on effect on collection rates and arrears
  • Assessing the growing reliance on fees, charges and council tax increases to sustain services, and the risks this creates for affordability and public trust
  • Exploring how councils can balance income generation with fairness, including targeted support, hardship policies and differentiated charging models
  • Identifying approaches to bringing residents and communities with them, maintaining legitimacy while making difficult financial decisions

  Nicola Morton, Head of Finance, Local Government Association (invited)

• 3.20pm

  Case Study: Opportunities for Procurement to Close Funding Gaps

  • Examining the scale of third-party spend in local government and its role in closing funding gaps
  • Exploring how councils can move toward strategic commissioning and value creation
  • Assessing opportunities to deliver cashable savings through contract renegotiation, aggregation and smarter sourcing
  • Identifying how procurement can support both financial resilience and improved service outcomes
• 3.40pm

  Questions and Answers

• 4.00pm

  Chair’s Closing Remarks

• 4.05pm

  Conference Close

Get in Touch

Previous Speakers

Jonathan Werran

Chief Executive

Localis

Abdool Kara

Executive Director

National Audit Office

Abi Brown

Non Executive Director

Local Government Association

Daniel Mather

Head of Corporate Finance

Warrington Borough Council

Cecilie Booth

Executive Director

Peterborough Council

Lloyd Clark

Managing Director

CAN

Testimonials

Why You Should Attend

• High-level keynotes from leading experts on policies and support measures to improve the finances of your local authority
• Case studies showcasing best practice income generation strategies and efficient use of resources
• Networking opportunities with colleagues from across a range of local councils
• 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota

Who Should Attend

Pricing Options

Sponsorship

Raise Your Profile, Showcase Your Solutions, Generate New Business

If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please contact us using the enquiry form below.

IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.

Virtual vs F2F

Whilst F2F provide better options for networking, there are many distinct advantages of sponsoring our online conferences including:

• Wider geographical reach of delegates and a different audience who prefer online to f2f
• Lower sponsorship package costs
• No travel/accommodation
• Less time out of the office
• No stand materials required (lower costs)
• 1 of only 2 sponsors involved – less competition on the day
• Prime speaking slot in the morning of the conference including Q&A – less distractions and easier for delegates to hear/absorb information
• Receive all delegate data after the conference to follow-up directly with those who attend and don’t attend (small % but still key stakeholders)
• Ongoing exposure via OnDemand access

To find out more and discuss your specific objectives, please contact us below: