APSE Annual Seminar 2026: Local Government on the Frontline, Meeting Challenges and Supporting Communities

 

On Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 September, APSE welcomed local government colleagues and elected members from across the UK to the APSE Annual Seminar 2026 in Liverpool.  

Held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel overlooking the Princes Dock, the seminar brought together over 300 delegates, exhibitors and speakers in the historic and vibrant city of Liverpool to discuss the biggest challenges and opportunities facing local government.  

This year’s event, Local Government on the Frontline, Meeting Challenges and Supporting Communities, focused on creating strategies for safer, cleaner and healthier places for residents to thrive.  

 

Chief Executive and Senior Leaders Challenge Panel 

The first session of the seminar was opened by Councillor Shelley Powell, APSE National Chair and Deputy Cabinet Member: Employment, Education & Skills at Knowsley Council, alongside Councillor Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council and Cabinet Member at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.  

Mo Baines, APSE Chief Executive, chaired the Chief Executive and Senior Leaders Challenge Panel, which brought together leaders from across the UK to discuss the most pressing issues facing local government.  

Alison Allen, Chief Executive of NILGA, shared her experience of leading local government through an uncertain political climate and how other local authorities could learn from Northern Ireland’s approach.  

Adrian Phillips, Chief Executive of Preston City Council, discussed how Preston are leading the way in community wealth building and highlighted the power of local procurement to boost social value in the area. 

Alison McKenzie-Folan, Chief Executive of Wigan Council, explored the importance of place-based leadership in delivering health and care integration, including the role of communities as a starting point for health.   

Councillor Lynne Short of Dundee City Council discussed the role of local leaders in building stronger communities for residents. 

Mark Davies, Chief Executive at Lancaster City Council, shared the council’s experience of reigniting the North’s Green Industrial Revolution in Morecambe and beyond.  

 

Frontline forums 

Following a thought-provoking panel discussion, delegates joined sector-specific frontline roundtables to unpack the challenges and opportunities facing local authorities.  

The roundtables covered key issues from economic growth strategies and fly-tipping enforcement to future-proofing homes, improving access to greenspaces and maintaining local roads.  

They provided a valuable opportunity to discuss sector-specific issues, exchange best practice and collaborate on innovative solutions to shared challenges.  

 

Communicating Change 

The first day of the seminar concluded with an insightful keynote address from APSE Associate Rene Power, focusing on how local government leaders can communicate change with confidence, clarity and impact.  

Rene highlighted the importance of engaging residents through clear, transparent communication and ensuring communities feel informed and involved in decision-making processes.  

The session was both engaging and timely, offering valuable insights as local authorities navigate uncertainty surrounding local government reorganisation and wider transformation across the sector. 

 

Delivering for Communities 

The second day of the seminar began with an academic research panel led by Professor Steve Griggs and Ryan Fox from the University of Staffordshire.  

Ryan’s presentation, ‘Growth: what is it good for?’, unpacked the concept of ‘good growth in every postcode’ and explored how this ambition could be achieved in practice. He highlighted the importance of taking a nuanced approach to each geographical context and developing a genuine understanding of place and local identity to inform policy.  

Professor Steve Griggs’ presentation, 'Sustainable Island Futures’, explored how sustainable development can be achieved in island economies through flexible models of local governance. Steve examined the concept of ‘islandness’ and island identity, as well as the specific challenges which are often amplified within island communities. He also explored how the research could be applied within the wider context of rural communities throughout the UK.  

Following the academic research panel, delegates were joined by Sarah McQueen, Head of Housing at South Kesteven Council, who shared how South Kesteven had transformed their housing service to achieve a C2 grade. Sarah outlined the journey her team had been on from culture change and goal setting to tenant engagement and inspection preparation.  

Luke Colaluca, Streetwise Manager at Rushcliffe Borough Council, shared Rushcliffe’s experience of insourcing its streetwise environmental services. Luke outlined the transformation of the service, including the creation of Streetwise Environmental Ltd, the decarbonisation of their fleet, the introduction of a digital toolkit and the role of external funding. Luke highlighted the success of this transformation, with the team proudly receiving the Best Council Service Team of the Year award at the MJ Awards, alongside positive feedback and reviews from residents. 

 

Innovation Showcase: Changing Climate and Sustainable Services 

Elaine Smith, Senior Quality, Energy and Sustainability Manager at the Northern Ireland Education Authority and Maria Diffley, Co-founder of SustainIQ, opened Session Five with an insightful presentation on their collaborative work to harness data and technology to improve environmental conditions across school estates. They shared the success of EcoSense, SustainIQ's digital reporting platform, which has helped reduce energy waste, cost savings and improve comfort for pupils in school estates.  

Chloe Jenkins, Project Manager at Coed Caerdydd at Cardiff Council, shared Cardiff’s experience of creating urban forests across the city with the help of a team of dedicated and passionate volunteers. The project included a range of community activities from planting and identification to nurseries and monitoring, supporting the city's biodiversity and resulting in 155,000 trees planted in 500 sites. 

To conclude the session, Louise Gilliam, Dietitian at Torfaen County Borough Council, presented the council’s Sustainable School Meals Roadmap, highlighting how it has cut carbon emissions, introduced healthier meal options, reduced food waste and invested in the workforce. Louise demonstrated how a pupil-first approach, including the popular Waste Warriors Competition, has delivered positive outcomes across schools, with the initiative receiving national recognition from industry bodies such as APSE,  The School Food People and Waste2Zero. 

 

Innovation Showcase: Service Transformation 

Session Six began with an exploration of Sherbourne Recycling’s Materials Recovery Facility, led by Layla Shannon, Business Development Director. Layla highlighted Sherbourne’s innovative partnership model, which works closely with eight local authorities across the Midlands to deliver their recycling commitments.  

She outlined the facility’s journey from the initial feasibility study to its current position as a leader in the circular economy. The presentation also explored the facility’s role in supporting local councils to respond to the new Simpler Recycling Legislation.  

Delegates were then joined by Deaglan O’Hagan, Head of Leisure Operations at Antrim and Newtownabbey Council, who shared the council's success of operating an in-house leisure service. Deaglan highlighted how an enhanced programme offer, increased investment and a strengthened brand had driven significant growth in both membership and facility usage, demonstrating the positive impact of the service transformation. 

Julie Nisbet, Transformation Manager at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, concluded Session Six with an insightful presentation on the positive impact of the council's Activity Champion Network, which works alongside care home staff to create meaningful and engaging opportunities for vulnerable residents. Julie highlighted the strong partnership approach that underpins the network, bringing together organisations including Tees Network, Tees Valley Museums and Stockton Globe.  

 

Networking and collaboration 

After another day packed with presentations and fascinating insights, colleagues enjoyed a networking session led by Neil Barnett, Research Fellow at Leeds Beckett University. Neil shared an overview of his book, Local Government and Democracy in Britain, with a wide range of thought-provoking questions from the audience.  

Delegates enjoyed a tour of Liverpool’s iconic Royal Liver Building, providing a unique opportunity to network alongside spectacular views of the city’s skyline. The tour explored the building’s fascinating history, from its construction to its status as one of Liverpool’s most iconic landmarks. 

 

Celebrating success at the Annual Service Awards and Charity Dinner 

To conclude two days of knowledge sharing, networking and collaboration with local government colleagues, delegates attended the 2026 Annual Service Awards and Charity Dinner, in aid of Parkinson's UK. We are proud to have raised £2,000 for Parkinson's UK and thank our delegates for their generosity and continued support.  

The awards recognised the local council teams working hard to make a positive impact on their communities, with categories celebrating innovation, transformation, collaboration and commercialisation across a wide range of frontline services.  

The evening also featured the prestigious APSE Council of the Year Award, which was presented to Torfaen County Borough Council in recognition of its outstanding achievements and commitment to delivering high-quality services for residents.  

The awards evening was a wonderful end to this year's Annual Seminar and provided an opportunity for delegates to come together and celebrate the dedication, innovation and hard work of local authority teams delivering vital services to communities across the UK.