DEMOS

How government can think differently: A masterclass in holistic policy making 
Monday, September 25th, 1pm-2pm, Marquee 3, Slot 2 (Conference pass needed)
In partnership with the new economics foundation (nef) and ACCA
Speakers:
Sophia Parker, Deputy Director, Demos
Lisa Sanfilippo, Head of Measurement and Evaluation,  nef (new economics foundation)
Dennis Yeates, President, ACCA 
Chair: Simon Parker, Senior Researcher – Public Services, Demos

Demos and nef have produced extensive work around systems thinking, service design, futures thinking in public services, and measuring what matters. This event will bring these areas together to look at a practical, holistic approach to policy making. A series of short exercises will stimulate audience involvement, between addresses from expert speakers. The event aims to stimulate discussion and debate about approaches to reform and the politics of public services by looking at a selection of areas including: Evidence based policy making, politics and political life cycles in approaches to reform, the place of targets and measurement, barriers to fresh approaches to reform, and the significance of the ‘frontline’ in services.

Teenage Kicks:  Celebrating the unsung heroes of urban renewal
Monday, September 25th, 8pm - 10pm, Igloo Regeneration, 113 Pollard Street, Manchester, M4 7JA
In partnership with Liverpool ’08
Speakers:
Ed Miliband MP, Minister for the Third Sector
Jason Harborrow, Liverpool Culture Company
Tony Wilson, Visionary Director, In the City

‘Teenage Kicks’ aims to provide a counter-point to the dominant rhetoric that young people have a destructive impact within urban areas. It will challenge the assumption that the overall contribution of young people is a negative one, and instead will show tangible examples, through artistic and performance-based work, of the constructive activity that many young people are part of within their local areas. 

A young person will chair the spoken contributions creating an opportunity to shift the debate around youth onto more positive ground, whilst also giving key individuals from within and beyond the youth sector the chance to consider the issues alongside young people themselves.

The natural resources for a creative society: Museums, libraries and archives
Tuesday, September 26th, 12pm-2pm, Mechanics Centre, 103 Princess Street, M1 6DD
In partnership with Museums, Libraries and Archives council (MLA)
Speakers:
David Lammy MP, Minister for Culture
John Holden, Head of Culture, Demos
Sue Wilkinson, MLA
Chris Batt, MLA

This event will discuss Demos’ recent investigation of the contribution that Museums, Libraries and Archives make to society; the value that they create for the public and how they address a range of policy goals from health to creativity.

Can We Trust Local Government: Making devolution democratic
Wednesday, September 27th, 12.45pm-2pm, Usdaw Marquee, Room 3 (Conference pass needed)
In partnership with Amey
Speakers:
Sir Michael Lyons, Lyons Inquiry into Local Government
Lucy DeGroot, Executive Director, IDeA
Steve Stewart, Assistant Chief Executive, Wakefield Council
Tony Barry, Director of Strategic Development, Amey
Chair: Simon Parker, Senior Researcher - Public Services, Demos

Everyone seems to be agreed that the future of government is local, but 2006 seems set to be the year when the rhetoric of the new localism becomes reality. The combination of a ‘double devolution’ white paper and the Lyons review seems likely to revolutionise the way councils see themselves – setting out a clear role for local government as a ‘place shaper’ leading all local services.

But what does the public really think of this shift? Perhaps most importantly, do they trust local government with the heavy responsibilities being devolved?

Trust is one of the most important assets public services can possess – it makes it easier to engage and motivate the public, helping councils achieve everything from tax collection to recycling and street cleaning to community safety. This event will invite key speakers to share their views on trust and local government, and help us to understand how trust in local government is generated, how it could be used and how to create more of it.

Lost in translation: Do politicians and voters speak the same language? (Conference pass needed)
Wednesday, September 27th, 6pm-8pm,  Marquee 3, Room 1
Speakers:
Rt. Hon. Jack Straw MP, Leader of the House of Commons
David Lammy, MP, Minister for Culture
Kitty Ussher MP
Dr Catherine Fieschi, Head of Research, Demos
Chair: Madeleine Bunting, Director, Demos

‘They don’t live in the real world’; ‘what they talk about has no relevance to my life’; ‘they’re all the same’; ‘what planet are they on?’

These are the kinds of comments many voters make about politicians. They’ve become deaf to, and profoundly cynical of, our current political language – what their politicians say and how they say it. Sometimes this alienation is in contrast to the voters’ own sense of well-being in recent years; living standards may have risen; their experience of health and education services may have been good but they attribute little of these achievements to the politicians. There is a deep vein of resentment in some voters towards those who claim to represent them and speak for them.
It’s an issue which troubles all politicians rightly – it threatens their legitimacy and the long term health of democratic debate in this country. This event aims to engage leading politicians in thinking about what might be the causes of this alienation and how it can be overcome. Are there new ways to connect with voters? How can politicians inspire trust again? How can the relationship between politician and voter be rehabilitated? What kinds of emotional, personal and political engagement with their elected representatives are voters looking for – and how can politicians provide it?