South 2026 Agenda

LGPN South 2026 Agenda

24-25 November, Radisson Blu, Edwardian Hotel, Heathrow

Loading
08:00
  1. Registration Desk
    45 mins
08:40
  1. Main Room
    20 mins
    • Strategy & Leadership
    • Digital, Data & AI
    As local government faces accelerating technological change, financial pressure, rising citizen expectations, and ongoing reform, the role of digital leadership is rapidly evolving. This session will ...
09:00
  1. Main Room
    40 mins
    • Strategy & Leadership
    • Digital, Data & AI
    As councils face mounting financial pressures, rising demand, and the challenge of delivering transformation at pace, collaboration between local and central government has never been more important. ...
10:10
  1. Main Room
    30 mins
    Our signature ‘Dragons’ Den’ session provides each solution provider with an opportunity to deliver a 60 second pitch, explaining why they are here and how their services can help tackle some of the sector’s ongoing challenges.
10:45
  1. Networking and business meetings
    Networking Area
    75 mins
    15 minute meetings with suppliers who are offering solutions most relevant to your challenges. Please check the schedule on the back of your delegate pass for your meeting timings.
12:05
  1. Main Room
    20 mins
    • Strategy & Leadership
    • Workforce, Skills & Culture
    Local government is often characterised as risk averse, but in a period of unprecedented change, standing still may be the riskiest option available. As councils navigate Local Government Reorganisati ...
  2. Breakout Room 1
    20 mins
    • Digital, Data & AI
    • Operations & Service Delivery
    As councils face growing pressure to modernise services while managing tight budgets, many are questioning whether traditional procurement models can keep pace with their ambitions. This session explo ...
  3. Breakout Room 2
    20 mins
    • Operations & Service Delivery
    • Outcomes & Impact
    As councils face increasing financial pressures, Local Government Reorganisation, and growing expectations from residents, delivering meaningful change requires more than additional funding. It requir ...
12:55
  1. Networking lunch
    50 mins
    An opportunity to connect with your peers and suppliers to talk over the learnings from the event. Lunch is served buffet style and a range of options are available to cater for different dietary requirements.
13:50
  1. Main Room
    45 mins
    • Strategy & Leadership
    • Digital, Data & AI
    Dive into a dynamic and engaging format designed to spark meaningful conversations and foster peer to peer connections. In this session, attendees will participate in four 10-minute blocks of informal ...
14:40
  1. Main Room
    20 mins

    Interested in sponsoring?

    Main and breakout room presentations

15:05
  1. Main Room
    20 mins

    Interested in sponsoring?

    Main and breakout room presentations

15:30
  1. Networking and business meetings
    Networking Area
    75 mins
    15 minute meetings with suppliers who are offering solutions most relevant to your challenges. Please check the schedule on the back of your delegate pass for your meeting timings.
19:30
  1. Main Room
    150 mins
    Networking sessions – throughout the event we host a networking lunch as well as a networking dinner to give you ample opportunity to connect with your peers and suppliers over the learnings from the event. Dinner is served in formal-style seating to a set menu. Our delegate team will speak to you to ensure we cater for any specific dietary requirements.
08:50
  1. Main Room
    40 mins
    • Digital, Data & AI
    • Operations & Service Delivery
    Everyone is talking about AI, but where is it genuinely adding value in local government? Local government is rapidly moving from AI curiosity to active implementation but many organisations are still ...
09:55
  1. Main Room
    20 mins
    • Digital, Data & AI
    • Operations & Service Delivery
    One year after a major cyber attack disrupted services across multiple London boroughs, this session reflects on the lessons learned from responding to, recovering from, and rebuilding after a signifi ...
  2. Breakout Room 1
    20 mins
    • Digital, Data & AI
    • Outcomes & Impact
    As councils face increasing pressure to improve outcomes with limited resources, the ability to connect data across organisations has become a powerful enabler of smarter, more preventative services. ...
  3. Breakout Room 2
    20 mins
    • Strategy & Leadership
    • Workforce, Skills & Culture
    As one of the first areas to move through Local Government Reorganisation at pace, Surrey has gained valuable insights into the realities of delivering large-scale organisational change. From building ...
10:20
  1. Main Room
    20 mins

    Interested in sponsoring?

    Main and breakout room presentations

  2. Networking and business meetings
    Networking Area
    60 mins
    15 minute meetings with suppliers who are offering solutions most relevant to your challenges. Please check the schedule on the back of your delegate pass for your meeting timings.
11:25
  1. Main Room
    30 mins
    • Finance & Sustainability
    • Digital, Data & AI
    Digital leaders know that investment in technology, data and skills is critical to delivering better services, improving efficiency, and supporting long-term transformation. Yet in an environment of t ...
12:05
  1. Main Room
    40 mins
    • Strategy & Leadership
    • Operations & Service Delivery
    As councils navigate rapid technological change, financial pressures, and increasing demand for services, the relationship between central and local government has never been more important.This sessi ...
12:45
  1. Main Room
    5 mins
    • Strategy & Leadership
12:50
  1. Networking lunch
    70 mins

Sponsored by

Frequently Asked Questions

The agenda is built around the biggest strategic, digital and operational challenges facing local government today. Expect sessions covering digital transformation, artificial intelligence, cyber resilience, data and analytics, local government reorganisation, service redesign, organisational change, workforce culture, leadership, place-based partnerships, resident experience, innovation, and securing investment for transformation. You’ll also hear practical case studies on building in-house digital capability, strengthening collaboration between local and central government, improving public services through data sharing, and preparing councils for the future.

The specific topics are shaped by delegate registration responses and ongoing sector developments, ensuring the programme reflects the priorities, pressures and opportunities currently facing local government leaders.

The event runs over two days with a mix of main room presentations, breakout sessions, panel discussions, and Dragons' Den speed pitches. You'll hear from senior leaders in local government sharing real case studies, followed by solution provider presentations showing what's possible. There's also dedicated time for one-to-one meetings, networking lunch, drinks reception, and a networking dinner – giving you plenty of opportunities to connect beyond the formal sessions.

Yes. While main room presentations are open to all delegates, you can select which breakout sessions are most relevant to your current challenges and priorities. Your pre-booked one-to-one meetings are scheduled around the agenda, and you'll have flexibility to attend the sessions that matter most to you.

Yes. You'll also get access to the conference guide with speaker profiles, case studies, and sponsor information. After the event, all delegates receive digital copies of the presentations.

We strongly recommend attending the full two-day event to get maximum value. The agenda is designed so that key themes develop across both days, and your pre-booked meetings are spread throughout the event. That said, if you can only attend one day, let us know during registration and we'll work with you to schedule your meetings and ensure you don't miss the sessions most relevant to your priorities.