Our ‘People, Places and Prosperity’ panel at Labour party conference brought together local government and business leaders to examine how good growth can deliver social value within communities. The event explored how to empower councils with the tools needed to reinvest the benefits of development back into their communities.
Rachel Blake MP (Member of Parliament for Cities of London and Westminster) opened the session, providing a welcome address which underlined the Government’s commitment to investing in skills so that economic growth benefits people from all backgrounds.
This was followed by a panel session which discussed the need for national policy to offer councils more flexibility in how they use CIL, as well as the importance of infrastructure investment, such as upgrading and extending the Bakerloo line, in unlocking new jobs and homes. The panel also examined how collaboration between public, private and third sectors is vital to create economic opportunities and deliver skills training for young people and to decarbonise workspaces.
Our speakers included:
- Rachel Blake MP, Member of Parliament for Cities of London and Westminster
- Olivia Harris, WPA Board & Chief Executive, Dolphin Living
- Cllr Adam Hug, Leader of the Council, Westminster City Council
- Shravan Joshi MBE, Deputy Chair of the Planning and Transportation Committee, City of London Corporation
- Carl Konadu BEM, CEO & Co-Founder, 2-3 Degrees
- James Raynor, WPA Chair & Chief Executive, Grosvenor Property (panel chair)
