Programme

Conference Programme

09.00	Registration & Refreshments
	*Welcome to Luton*
09.30	Councillor Hazel Simmons, Leader of Luton Council, Luton Borough Council
09.40	David Marlow, Chair of Luton Gateway
09.50	*Keynote speech* Ian Austin MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Communities and Local Government) and Chair of mksm Inter Regional Board Questions from the floor
10.20	*The* *mksm* *story: progress during a changing climate* Councillor Martin Tett, Chair mksm Executive Board & LA Leadership Group, and Hilary Chipping, mksm Director An update on developments and the future plans for the region from mksm. Includes an opportunity for all delegates to participate and put forward their opinions through an interactive voting system facilitated by and published within
11.00	Refreshments, Networking & Exhibition
11.30	*Investing in places – after the Government’s spending review* John Lewis, Director, Homes and Communities Agency
	*External Perceptions - what needs to be done*
11.50	Development Climate: Harder times - who will be first out of the downturn? Anthony Glossop, Chairman, St Modwen Properties PLC
12.05	Economic Climate: Prospects for growth TBA
12.20	Political climate: Localism and growth - a view from the opposition David Lidington, MP for Aylesbury
12.40	Questions from the floor
12.50	Lunch , Networking & Exhibition
13.45	*Interactive Seminar Sessions – Defining the road to success* Past: Do we have the right ingredients for success? What has the mksm sub-region achieved and how are we strengthening our partnership? Does mksm have the buy-in, priority and recognition it needs? Have we kept pace with change and is our vision strong enough to survive? In this seminar we explore what sort of communities we have been creating and discuss where we need to raise our game. We will hear from past experience in the mksm area and a national design perspective in order to help highlight best practice and ensure that we learn lessons from the past. Session Chair: Will Pope, Board Member, East of England Development Agency Speakers: Peter Studdert, Director of Joint Planning (Cambridge Growth Areas & Northstowe) and CABE Regional Representative for the East of England and John Walker, Director, JW Consulting
	Present: Are we set to deliver? What are the current challenges in delivering our housing and economic growth? Are we responding to the challenges of climate change and how they relate to mksm? Are our Growth targets still deliverable? In this seminar we explore the key challenges and opportunities for growth in the current economic climate. We will hear perspectives on whether the private sector can still deliver the planned housing growth, and what the current market means for the public-private sector relationship. We will also hear from a premier researcher and advisor on climate change, and will discuss what this may mean for the mksm area’s growth plans. In all, we want this seminar to discuss whether we can still build sustainable communities in the current climate, and where we can act now to support this. Session Chair: Diana Gilhespy, Executive Director of Regeneration, East Midlands Development Agency Speaker: John Cross, Chair, National Housing Federation and CEO, Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association and Keesje Crawford-Avis, Principal Officer, Climate Change, Environment Agency
	Future: What does the future hold? What political and economic shocks might we expect in the future? How will these affect the prospects for our planned growth? What are the national policy changes and funding constraints which we need to prepare for now? In this seminar we will explore the longer-term implications for growth of the likely economic and political changes occurring now. We will explore areas such as a change of Government, economic recovery and the long term housing market. We will discuss how to ensure that mksm is best positioned for the future and has a strong enough vision and partnership to continue on its journey of sustainable development and economic prosperity. Session Chair: Oona Muirhead, Executive Director, Skills & Sustainable Prosperity, South East England Development Agency Speakers: Jackie Sadek, Chair, BURA and Tim Williams, Director, Navigant Consulting
14.45	Refreshments, Networking & Exhibition
	*What have we learned today?*
15.15	Panel Discussion Panel members: Will Pope, EEDA Oona Muirhead, SEEDA, Diana Gilhespy, emda, Councillor Martin Tett and Hilary Chipping, mksm Director Chaired by: Richard Garlick, Editor, Regeneration & Renewal Magazine
15.45	Re-vote and dissemination of results – commentated on by panel
16.00	Roy Clare CBE, Chair of Living Places Close - Councillor Martin Tett
16.30	Networking reception A final opportunity to network with drinks and canapés available Sponsored by Luton Based UK Centre for Carnival Arts will be performing during the reception.