Local Authority Property and Estates 2025

Thursday 20th March 2025

ETC Venue, 11 Portland Street, Manchester

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The Local Authority Property & Estates 2025 conference will be held at 11 Portland Street in Manchester on 20th March . This prestigious event, for many years a must attend feature of the public sector property professionals calendar, will see the return of current, expert, high profile and influential speakers from a diverse range of public and private sector organisations.

This conference will allow circa 120 delegates from local authorities and the wider public sector to attend, each of whom will do so completely free of charge. Places are strictly limited so please ensure to book your place early to avoid disappointment.

Work sessions will be led by a mix of high-level public and private sector presenters and will encourage interactivity. Throughout the day there will be chances to network with your peers within the exhibition area. Food and refreshments are provided to all attendees.

Delegate places are free of charge for all property professionals employed within the UK public sector*.

*Terms & Conditions apply as detailed on booking

Conference Agenda

Thursday 20th March 2025

ETC Venue, 11 Portland Street, Manchester

Subject matters to be covered include (but not limited to):

  • Transforming Government Property: capitalising on the public estate to drive regional growth and opportunity
  • Maximising Value: Why Local Authorities Should Choose Auctions for Asset Disposal – This session will explore the reasons why local authorities should consider using auctions as a primary method for disposing of assets. Focusing on the benefits of speed, transparency, and market-driven pricing, we will demonstrate how auctions ensure a fair and competitive process, maximising the value of surplus public sector properties and land. The session will also highlight how auctions can minimise administrative costs, reduce risk, and attract a wide range of potential buyers, as well as providing  certainty in completion timelines, helping local authorities to meet financial goals and efficiently manage surplus assets Furthermore, the session will examine key provisions of the Local Government Act, which govern the disposal of public sector assets, and demonstrate how auctions comply with these regulations by providing a clear and competitive process. By the end of this session, delegates will have gained a clear understanding of why auctions are the most effective and efficient solution for asset disposal in the public sector.
  • Test & learn approaches: Place Pilots – Public Property in Place – Nearing conclusion, ‘Place Pilots: Public Property in Place’, an Office of Government Property initiative, delivered through ‘One Public Estate *’ aimed to encourage all public asset owners in each place – central government organisations, councils and other public sector organisations – to explore opportunities by sharing future asset plans through multi-portfolio collaboration and embedding a stronger focus on strategic asset management, to optimise investment and support better public services. The ambitious initiative sought to test approaches in a range of authority scales and landscapes to deliver a ‘smaller, better, greener’ public estate, fostering collaboration and engagement across the public sector, particularly between local and central government bodies, to generate a more joined up approach to future public estate demand and supply, and collaborative service delivery. In this session we will explore the methods and emerging outcomes.
  • Decarbonising local authority buildings – In this session we will share how Salix works with local authorities on their net zero journeys, managing government funding schemes including the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to support the delivery of decarbonisation projects. We will explore the challenges and successes of the scheme to date, including case studies where low carbon heating systems and energy efficiency improvements have reduced carbon and helped create better places to work.
  • The value of collaboration around public sector property

Agenda may be subject to change and will be updated regularly

Speakers and Panel members

Thursday 20th March 2025

ETC Venue, 11 Portland Street, Manchester

Ann Carter-Gray

Former Head of Places, Cabinet Office (recently retired)

Ann is now pursuing a portfolio of interests, including: NED; dealing in vintage & collectables; and running a holiday cottage business. Ann was appointed as an Independent member of the University of Derby Governing Council in November 2023, with a focus on the Estate.

Until her early retirement in October 2024, Ann had worked for The Cabinet Office for over 13 years, latterly as the Head of Places (Head of Estates, leading the strategic management of the Estate to meet the needs of the department and Environmental Sustainability; and Programme Director, the Locations Programme, successfully moving out of London and into the regions).

Ann previously worked in the Government Property Agency (GPA) where she worked as Programme Director and has also worked in the Government Property Unit of The Cabinet Office. Ann began her civil service career in 2000, with roles within the Department for Trade and Industry. Ann spent 17 years in the private sector. Ann qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 1990 whilst working for the Boots Group Plc.

Karun Ahluwalia

Director, Consultancy

Christie & Co

Peter Beer

Head of Property & Strategic Assets

West Midlands Combined Authority

Courteney Donaldson MRICS

Managing Director, Childcare & Education

Christie & Co

Edward Feather

Associate Director

Pugh & Co (Part of Eddisons)

Simon Pettett

Assistant Director of Programmes

Salix Finance

Simon Pettett is Assistant Director at Salix Finance with more than ten years experience delivering numerous multi-million funding programmes across the public sector in England.

He joined Salix Finance in 2014 and has been involved in multiple programmes over the years with local authorities across England, as well as schools, hospitals, colleges, universities and central government departments and their arm’s length bodies.

In his current role, he oversees the delivery phase of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) which supports decarbonisation projects across the public sector in England.

Lynda Rawsthorne FRICS

Director, Property Capability & Strategy & Government Head of Property Profession

Cabinet Office

Lynda Rawsthorne was appointed Government Head of Property Profession and Director, Property Capability, Sponsorship & Standards, in August 2023.

Lynda is head of the Government Property Profession, the community of property professionals across government. She provides professional leadership across a diverse range of government departments and arms-length bodies which deliver the government’s property ambitions.

Lynda has over 25 years’ professional experience across the property lifecycle including valuation, managing estates as well as delivering transformational and construction-based programmes. A Fellow of both the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Association of Project Management, Lynda is a graduate of the Major Project Leadership Academy at the University of Oxford.

Lindsay Whitley

Regional Programme Manager – One Public Estate

Local Government Association

Lindsay is an urban designer, chartered town planner (MRTPI), and programme manager. Using well-honed skills in placemaking, strategy, and communication, Lindsay’s current role is on the innovative One Public Estate programme. A partnership between the Local Government Association, Cabinet Office, and DLUHC, she promotes collaboration between public sector partners to repurpose surplus public estate to kickstart regeneration, transform public service delivery, and unlock sites for new homes.

Speakers, Exhibitors and Supporters from:

Event Timetable

Thursday 20th March 2025

ETC Venue, 11 Portland Street, Manchester

09:00 – 10:00 Registration & Networking breakfast – continental breakfast provided

10:00 – 11:15  Plenary session

11:15 – 11:45 Refreshments and networking

11:45 – 12:45  Sessions

12:45 – 13:45 Lunch and networking

13:45 – 14:45  Sessions

14:45 – 15:10 Refreshments and networking

15:10 – 16:10  Sessions

16:10 – 16:20 Chair’s closing remarks

16:20 – 17:20 Drink’s reception

17:20 – Conference Close

Please note agenda will be updated regularly, speakers, subject matter and timings may be subject to change

Venue, Travel & Hotels – ETC

Venue Information

Etc. Venues, 11 Portland Street, Manchester – CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS

Venue Tel: 0161 302 8888

Venue E-mail: manchester@etcvenues.com

Venue Website: https://www.etcvenues.com/venues/manchester

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

Public Sector Connect Ltd
Lockside Mill
St Martins Road
Marple
Stockport
SK6 7BZ

(please note this is the organisers business address – NOT the venue for the event)