The Local Government Association has organised an event specifically aimed at councillors to help them understand more about local government finance.  In particular it looks at:

• how local government finance is allocated to councils
• roles and responsibilities, including the role of elected members
• current issues in local government finance
• how local government finance should be reformed

It is being held on 10th September at Local Government House in Smith Square in Westminster.  It is £150 for councillors from authorities who are LGA members.  More details are available here.

The new coalition government has committed to a huge increase in energy from waste through anaerobic digestion.  If this is an area in which you are interested, ALDC has been sent details of a conference and tradeshow that may be useful - UK AD and Biogas 2010 is the event to attend this year if you are involved in or interested in this area.

• meet leading suppliers, industry experts, financiers, local authorities, researchers, government agencies and developers in our buzzing exhibition
• network with representatives from the agricultural, waste, energy, finance, water, retail and local authority sectors
• hear Government Ministers and other high profile speakers give exclusive insight into ‘The Future of Anaerobic Digestion in the UK’ at our two-day conference (separate paid entry)
• attend FREE workshops, seminars and masterclasses packed with practical advice and discussions.

• Ministers from DECC and DEFRA
• David Kennedy, Chief Executive, The Committee on Climate Change
• Lord Oxburgh
• Gwyn Jones, Vice President, NFU
• Steve Smith, Senior Partner, Local Grids and RPI-X@20, Ofgem
• Dr Martin Bigg, Head of Policy, Environment Agency
• Chris Matthews, Head of Sustainability, United Utilities
• Paul Turner, Head of Sustainable Development, Lloyds Banking Group
• Patrick Miller, Director, Deutsche Bank
• Marcus Gover, Director of Market Development Programmes, WRAP 
• Mark Bugler, Energy Technology and Innovation Manager, British Gas New Energy
• Stuart Hayward Higham, Technical Director, Sita
• Samantha Fuller, Development Manager, Scottish & Southern Energy

Cllr Roger Gough and Cllr Arian Naylor (the elected member representatives from the Total Place Kent and Bradford pilots) would like to invite you to the national members event at Westminster Central Hall on the 21st May 2010.   

This is a national event where leading figures from national and local government will be setting out their thoughts on where Total Place takes us.  

Members from across the Total Place pilots, parallel places and other areas interested in this type of work will have an opportunity to hear feedback from the final reports and what we have learned, particularly about the blockages.  Political change is an important part of the equation as solutions cannot always be delivered through ‘managerial action’. Political backing is therefore essential in taking this initiative forward.  

We do hope you will be able to join us at this milestone event.  Please RSVP to john.jarvis@localleadership.gov.uk or on 0207 187 7385.’  

Good news - because we're all so busy with something called the election - we've extended the deadline for cheap "early bird" registrations for the 2010 Liberal Democrat Local Government Conference to TUESDAY (6th April) - giving you the whole bank holiday weekend to register. 

Registrations start at £35 (that's after a £5 discount for ALDC members). After next Tuesday these will go up to £45 for ALDC members and £50 for non-members. Council Groups in Group Membership of ALDC can take advantage of our "buy two, get one free" offer - get in touch if you want to take advantage of this offer. 

Register online here. ALDC members should log in first to take advantage of the members discount. (Your log in details are at the end of this email). 

Conference Details

Who, When, Where

- all LIberal Democrat Councillors and local campaigners; group researchers and staff, colleagues from local government and Parliament. 

- Saturday 19 June 2010. 
On Friday 18 June, there are a number of satellite events, including a Group Leaders Day - separate information has been sent out about this. 

On the evening of Friday 18 June 2010, is the Lib Dem Local Government Dinner. Now in its fourth year, this popular event takes place at the City Inn in Westminster - tickets are £40 per person. If people need accomodation overnight a special rate has been arranged at the City Inn Westminster - email westminster.res@cityinn.com or telephone 020 7630 1000 quoting the code LIBE180610. Other cheaper hotels are available nearby. 

The Conference takes place at Local Government House, Smith Square, Westminster, London. 

Conference Programme

We've got a busy day planned for you, the final programme will be available after the General Election, but here are some highlights. 

Keynote speakers: We cannot confirm this until after the General Election, but both NIck Clegg and Ros Scott plan to be with us. More to be confirmed as soon as we can!

Debate and discussion: Fringe event topics confirmed so far include: Total Place, Total Change; Localism; Future of Standards in Local Government, and "Ageing Liberally". 

Training: Plenty of training for Councillors and newly elected Councillors including: Introduction to being a Councillor, Effective Scrutiny, Cabinet Member for Your Ward, Public Speaking and Working with the Media. There will be special campaigns sessions on campaigning in the post-election landscape and winning in the 2011 local elections. 

Exhibition: There will be stands from the local Government family and a number of partners and friends from the rest of the Party and commercial colleagues throughout the day - plus the chance to meet and chat with councillors and campaigners from other parts of the country.

For more information, or if you are interested in joining us at the Conference as an exhibitor or fringe partner please get in touch with Emma Hall 01422 843 785 emma.hall@aldc.org.  

Don't miss out on our early bird rate - Register today!

The Liberal Democrat Group in the Local Government Association is organising another residential conference for Children's and Young People's services.  It is being held at the National College for School Leadership's Learning and Conference Centre in Nottingham on 5th-6th February 2010.

This event is recommended for all Liberal Democrats with an interest in education, children and young people's services, but especially for portfolio holders or opposition spokespeople in these areas.  It will be attended by leading Liberal Democrat councillors from across the country, as well as the party's parliamentary spokespeople on education.

More details, including the price and a booking form is available as a PDF from the LGA Lib Dem Group website.