Council chiefs to speak at Pannone austerity summit

A HIGH level summit organised by Manchester law firm Pannone will debate the future of local government in the age of austerity.

Sir Howard Bernstein, chief executive of Manchester City Council, and Ged Fitzgerald – currently with Lancashire County Council but soon moving to the top job at Liverpool – are among the speakers at the event on Wednesday December 1.

Called ‘Austerity- The way forward’ the event is Pannone’s first public sector summit, and will explore how local authorities are responding to the challenges posed by the Comprehensive Spending Review – delivering services for less.

Stephen Chalcraft, partner and head of public sector at Pannone, said: “The public sector policy scene is evolving fast. Given stark shrinkage in the public authority purse, all authorities are going to have to work smarter and more innovatively together if they are to offer much more from a lot less. 

“This event, which brings together some top public and private sector names will offer some key insights into how to turn austerity problems into value-added opportunities.”

Speakers include Professor Tony Travers, from the London School of Economics and Ged Curran, chief executive of London Borough of Merton, The debate, which will conclude with a Q&A session chaired by Cllr Richard Kemp, deputy chair of the Local Government Association.

Free-to-attend, the summit is being held at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester. TheBusinessDesk.com is pleased to be media partner alonside national local government title MJ.

For more information please contact Carly Jones on 0161 909 4617 or email law@pannone.co.uk. See:  http://www.pannone.com/events.asp?seminerid=117