The conference will run from approximately 10:00 to 16:00 and will feature sessions exploring, among other topics:
- The Estate We’re In: A New Vision for Local Assets and Community Value
Local authorities sit at the heart of their communities, and the assets they steward represent far more than balance sheet entries – they are the physical expression of place, identity, and ambition.
This keynote explores how local and central government can work together to think boldly about placemaking, moving beyond transactional asset management towards a strategic vision that maximises social, economic, and environmental value for communities.
Drawing on emerging best practice and the Government’s own missions, it sets out a compelling case for a new relationship between place, people, and the public estate. - ACES Presents: FACES of the Future Public Estate
An inspiring conversation with early‑career property professionals who are forging their paths within the public sector. From training experiences to qualification milestones, they’ll discuss what drew them to public service, what they’ve learned along the way, and how they see their role in shaping a modern, resilient public estate. - Driving value and certainty: the role of property auctions in today’s public sector
Local authorities are under unprecedented pressure to deliver faster decisions, clearer processes and stronger financial outcomes. With ongoing restructuring creating larger combined authorities and new regulations tightening the rules around property standards and long‑term liabilities, many councils are reassessing how they dispose of assets and release capital.
This session shows why property auctions are becoming the preferred route for Local Authorities needing certainty, speed and real market competition. We’ll explore how auction platforms deliver best consideration, minimise fall‑through risk, cut administrative burden and provide full transparency, all the while helping local authorities respond to emerging challenges such as EPC changes and the rising cost of holding non‑compliant stock.
By the end of this session, attendees will gain a clear understanding of how auctions can help local authorities respond effectively to shifting regulatory, financial and organisational pressures.
- Neighbourhood Hubs that deliver: Partnership models driving local impact – case study from Salford City Council & Community Health Partnerships
This session will explore how the existing NHS LIFT estate can be maximised to support the delivery of a Neighbourhood Health Service, as set out in the 10 Year Health Plan. It will highlight how flexible, community based facilities are enabling integrated, accessible and prevention focused care closer to home.
We will also showcase a case study demonstrating a dual tenancy model between Community Health Partnerships and Salford City Council, illustrating how shared use of estate can strengthen neighbourhood level collaboration and unlock wider community benefits. We will reflect on the successes, practical lessons learned, and the operational and strategic challenges encountered along the way.
Delegates will gain insight into the opportunities for making better use of existing public estate, improving utilisation, and enabling more coordinated services that meet population health needs. - From Cupboards to Data Centres: Unlocking Value by Retiring Server Rooms
Server rooms are often overlooked, yet they quietly drive-up costs, carbon emissions, and limit flexibility across the public sector estate. This session explores how moving servers into purpose-built data centres can cut emissions by up to 99%, reduce running costs by 66%, and unlock valuable space for other uses. We’ll share practical examples and outline how the Cabinet Office partnership, Crown Hosting, makes the transition straightforward—helping estates teams deliver real savings and progress towards net zero. - Optimising use of public sector estates
- Rationalisation of assets and reducing running costs
- Decarbonisation of public buildings
- Using property as a driver for local economic growth
- Public-private partnerships
- Leveraging data and technology for estate management
- Enhancing transparency and efficiency
- Building capacity and skills within local authorities
Agenda is subject to change and will be updated regularly
speakers & panel members
Peter Beer
Conference Chair
Head of Property & Strategic Assets, West Midlands Combined Authority
Peter was appointed Head of Property & Strategic Assets at West Midlands Combined Authority in June 2024. He is a chartered surveyor with 20 years’ experience managing local authority property portfolios for district and unitary authorities, before stepping into his current Combined Authority role.
With experience in property transformation, asset rationalisation and asset strategy planning, he is now working with partners both at the regional level, and with Cabinet Office and LGA to promote good asset management planning and partnership working in the West Midlands to unlock opportunities for property and place in the context of devolution. Peter is also an assessor for the RICS Associate route and is passionate in ensuring opportunities for development into the profession.
Saurabh Bhandari
Director, Property Delivery and Transformation, OGP (Cabinet Office)
Saurabh Bhandari was appointed Director, Property Delivery and Transformation, within the Office of Government Property (Cabinet Office), in May 2024.
Saurabh leads strategic initiatives to modernise and optimise the Government Property Portfolio, with a particular focus on transforming property investments and assets into catalysts for innovation & growth, that create public value.
Saurabh leads the drive to improve the condition of the government estate. He is responsible for the ongoing improvement of facilities management in government buildings, including modernising infrastructure to enhance safety, energy efficiency and operational effectiveness across the public sector. As a precursor to transforming assets and investments, he will also provide leadership in using data and analytics to enable decisions across the government estate.
Having trained as a Chartered Architect and a Programme manager he brings multi-sector experience across real estate, social and economic infrastructure. Saurabh has extensive experience at senior positions on high-profile, national and international property programmes in a career spanning across multiple market sectors and both public and private investment led development programmes.
He is a Fellow of the Association of Project Management and a graduate of the Major Project Leadership Academy at Oxford University.
A keen reader and amateur runner, Saurabh lives in Manchester with his wife and two children.
Edward Feather
Director & Auctioneer, BTG Edissons
Edward Feather is a Director and Auctioneer at BTG Eddisons, based in Manchester. With over 15 years’ experience in property auctions and extensive knowledge of the Northwest market, he has been able to hone his specialism in the sale of residential and commercial property through auctioneering, advising clients on strategy, pricing and disposal to achieve the best results. Edward has held senior roles across the property sector, spanning property sales, negotiations and auctioneering, working with investors, developers and private clients.
Tony Fitzgerald
Senior Strategic Asset Manager, Salford City Council
Tony is a Senior Manager at Salford City Council, responsible for strategic asset management. He also chairs the Salford Strategic Estates Group which represents the broader public estate and the VCFSE estate across the city.
Tony has worked for a number of local authorities in the field of town centre regeneration and was the senior responsible officer for award winning projects in Greater Manchester, Derbyshire, Cheshire and Lancashire. Tony has recently returned to Local Government after spending ten years in the NHS in Greater Manchester, with a particular focus on Salford.
Robert Horne
Head of Local Government Engagement, Crown Hosting Data Centres
Rob leads engagement across a number of public sector verticals including, local government, healthcare, education, blue light, and research delivering secure and sustainable data centre services to the UK public sector. He works closely with estates and digital teams to help them make the most of Crown Hosting Framework (RM6262) – reducing costs, cutting carbon emissions, and improving resiliency by migrating IT infrastructure out of existing buildings into state of the art, resilient colocation data centres.
Jeanette Leach
Regional Director for North West, Community Health Partnerships
Jeanette is North West Regional Director for Community Health Partnerships, with over 20 years’ experience of senior leadership working in the NHS across both commissioner and provider organisations locally, regionally and nationally. She has held numerous roles commencing in the Primary Care Trust, Heywood Middleton and Rochdale CCG, Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care Foundation Trust, NHS England national team and Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
With an MBA in Business Administration, she progressed her career from corporate services board secretary to commissioning, contract management, procurement to leading successful large-scale transformation and improvement programmes across the NHS, enabling successful health and social care integration and transformation at neighbourhood and system level.
Jeanette leads infrastructure strategic planning in support of clinical strategies and neighbourhood delivery and has a successful track record of improving building optimisation and customer excellence. She has an open and collaborative style that encourages creativity and contribution whilst providing supportive leadership and accountability with a strong value base she is known for driving goals, performance expectations and culture.
Jeanette is a Director on several LIFT Partnership Boards across the North West and enjoys spending time with her family, travelling and visiting friends in her spare time.
Tayo Olanite
Estates Surveyor, Hyndburn Borough Council
Biog coming soon
Azim Walimia
Development Manager, West Midlands Combined Authority
Biog coming soon
event timetable
09:00 Registration & Networking – refreshments and pastries provided
10:00 Plenary
11:15 Refreshments and networking
11:45 Work sessions
12:45 Lunch and networking
13:45 Work sessions
14:45 Refreshments and networking
15:10 Work sessions
16:10 Chair’s closing remarks
16:20 Drinks reception
17:20 Conference Close
Please note agenda will be updated regularly, speakers, subject matter and timings may be subject to change
EXHIBITORS, SPEAKERS & SPONSORS FROM
VENUE, TRAVEL & HOTELS
This event takes place at TheStudio, Manchester.
What3Words: Rats, Pouch, Grabs
Walking from Piccadilly Station – 10 minutes
On leaving Piccadilly Station via ‘Piccadilly’ exit, walk down the ramp towards the City centre and Piccadilly Gardens. Follow the path until you see Tesco Express on your left hand side. Cross over Newton Street and take the next turning on the right into Lever Street, continue along crossing Back Piccadilly, Dale Street, Stevenson Square and Faraday Street, TheStudio is located on your left at 51 The Hive.
Venue phone number: 0161 237 1201
Venue website: Click to visit
CONTACT US
Delegate enquiries (including bookings)
Georgia Richardson – Conference Manager
0161 482 7853
grichardson@publicsectorconnect.org
Exhibition & sponsorship enquiries
Sharon Quinn – Head of Business Development
0161 482 7859
squinn@publicsectorconnect.org
Conference logistics, presentation & print enquiries
Georgia Richardson – Conference Manager
0161 482 7853
grichardson@publicsectorconnect.org
Accounts
0161 482 7853
accounts@publicsectorconnect.org
Address
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