The New Challenge to Local Partnerships: Local Corporate Social Responsibility

Transcription

1 Tuesday 3 December 2002,Thistle Hotel Victoria, London SW1 Local strategic partnerships are now at the heart of local authority delivery and governance.this is creating new imperatives. Increasingly private and voluntary sector partners are expected to be accountable and socially responsible. And local authorities are expected to ensure that they remain so. How can local authorities build corporate responsibility and openness into their partnerships? How can the private sector make a positive impact on local communities while securing, or even boosting, the bottom line? And what is the role for local voluntary organisations in the Corporate Social Responsibility debate? This one day national conference will provide an important opportunity to share practical ideas, anticipate the future of local corporate social responsibility and understand the Government's vision. KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Stephen Timms MP Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry SPEAKERS INCLUDE: Dan Corry Executive Director, NLGN Julia Cleverdon CBE Chief Executive, Business in the Community Simon Zadek Chief Executive, AccountAbility - The Institute of Social and Ethical Accountability John Foster Chief Executive, Middlesbrough City Council and NLGN Innovation Forum Member Grahame Burgess Executive Director Regeneration and Technical, Blackburn with Darwen Council Ben Cooper Policy Officer, National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)

2 Tuesday 3 December 2002, Thistle Hotel Victoria, London SW1 Programme (subject to change) Registration & Refreshments Welcome and introduction from the chair for the morning Setting the Scene Dan Corry, Executive Director, NLGN Is Local Social Responsibility Good for Business? Julia Cleverdon CBE, Chief Executive, Business in the Community The impact on profit of corporate social responsibility is much debated. What does the strong community aspect of local partnership add to this discussion? Is the financial pressure to adopt a responsible approach just as intense as the political pressure in a local environment? Do different approaches to social responsibility have different impacts on business? Keynote Speech Stephen Timms, Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry Questions and Discussion Refreshments Socially Responsible Business and Regenerating Communities Simon Zadek, Chief Executive, AccountAbility The Institute of Social and Ethical Accountability In some communities Local authorities have faced challenging problems for many years such as economic regeneration, raising educational attainment and reducing crime. Partnership with the private sector is seen as a key part of the solution. How can we ensure that these partnerships deliver real social gains while also enhancing local democracy and accountability? Panel Discussion Cllr Dame Sally Powell, Deputy for Regeneration, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Lucy Neville-Rolfe, Director of Corporate Affairs, Tesco Plc Lunch How Can Local Authorities Ensure their Partners are Socially Responsible? John Foster, Chief Executive, Middlesbrough City Council and NLGN Innovation Forum Member Establishing a working, effective partnership with a private firm is difficult enough, can local authorities really be expected to build social responsibility into their applications, negotiations and management? What are the fundamental principles that need to be kept in mind and what impact can it have on building effective partnerships?

3 14.20 Questions and Discussion Workshop Sessions Delegates should choose to attend two workshops from 1-4 which will be held between and repeated between pm Designing Procurement to Ensure Socially Responsible Partners Grahame Burgess, Executive Director Regeneration and Technical, Blackburn with Darwen Cluncil If a local authority is serious about social responsibility, then the objective needs to be built into the partnership process from the very start. What issues need to be considered in procurement? How can an authority know bidders mean what they say about responsibility? What is it realistic and reasonable to demand? What legal considerations need to be kept in mind? 2. Business models for corporate engagement with Local Authorities Justine Bentham, UK Volunteering Co-ordinator, KPMG Business needs to know that any socially responsible project will be effective in addressing local problems and benefiting the longer-term vision of the business. How can a firm manage its relationship with a local authority to ensure that it gets the best out of its commitment to social responsibility? 3. : The Role of the Voluntary Sector Ben Cooper, Policy Officer, National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) Corporate social responsibility is a partnership issue. It has been noted by some that the voluntary sector is particularly well-placed to work in such a context with business and local authorities to ensure that any project is genuinely beneficial. How can the voluntary sector be involved? What sort of work does it do? Should local voluntary organisations be at the heart of delivering socially responsible projects? 4. : The Role of Small and Medium Enterprises Michael Littlechild, Chief Executive, Good Corporation Social responsibility is often seen as the preserve of the large corporations. In a local community, however, SMEs can be just as important to neighbourhood economies and well-being. What does corporate social responsibility mean in an SME and how can they manage it? What can local authorities do to encourage it? Workshop 1-4 are repeated Conference Closes

4 Purpose of the Conference The partnership role taken by business in developing local areas and tackling community problems is one of the most exciting innovations in local governance. Contributors to this conference will share what has been learnt from early experimentation and provide partners with an insight into the approaches that are being adopted. Through plenary sessions, delegates will hear from the Minister of State at the DTI, Stephen Timms MP and senior figures from the private and public sectors on: How Government intends to encourage further development of local corporate social responsibility. Why there is increasing pressure on private sector partners to display accountability and social responsibility How firms can develop local communities and their business simultaneously. How local authorities can build corporate responsibility and accountability into their partnerships How business can work most effectively with local authorities to ensure genuine outcomes from their work with communities Through workshops, delegates will hear experienced testimony from local authority officers, councillors, experts and LSP members on the following: How the procurement process can be designed to ensure socially responsible partners. How business and local authorities can manage the partnership to maintain a socially responsible approach How the voluntary sector can play a key role in designing and implementing socially responsible projects Who Should Attend? Leaders/Mayors Cabinets/Executive Members Private Sector Chief Executives Businesses working in the Community Councillors Overview & Scrutiny Chairs/Heads Heads of Policy Cabinet Members with portfolio for Powers of Economic, Social and Environmental Well Being Local Authority Chief Executives Voluntary Groups/Organisations Organisations with a Community Focus Community Liaison Officers Neighbourhood Managers Heads of Services Regeneration Officers Policy and Resource Chairs Community Stakeholder Groups Other Public Bodies Head of Community Development Head of Corporate Strategy Academics Area Committee Members Consultancies Think Tanks Human Resources Directors/ Managers Heads of Corporate Social Responsibility, Private Setor Private Sector Organisations with a stake in the local community

5 Tuesday 3 December 2002,Thistle Hotel Victoria, London SW1 sa146 DELEGATE BOOKING FORM Name Position Organisation Address Tel No. I have read and agree to the terms and conditions below: Signature (Direct Line? Yes/No) Fax No. Title (Mr/Ms/Dr/Prof/Other) Postcode HOW TO REGISTER: Complete the delegate information section above and either: 1. Fax a copy of this form to: Post the completed form:customer Services, Neil Stewart Associates, PO Box 36472, 4 Pear Tree Court, London EC1R 0ZB 3. Book online at Please photocopy this booking form for additional delegates DELEGATE FEES:* Please tick the relevant box below Full Rate VAT ( ) Commercial Sector, Central Government Reduced Rate VAT ( ) Local Authorities, other Public Sector Organisations Supported Rate VAT ( ) Voluntary Organisations,Trade Unions * Fees include all day access to the event, available conference papers, buffet lunch and refreshments, for registered delegates only. Fees do not include travel costs or accommodation. Shared places are not permitted. If you have any special requirements, please describe them here: WORKSHOP SESSIONS: Delegates can choose to attend one workshop in this session. 1. Designing Procurement to Ensure Socially Responsible Partners 2. Business models for corporate engagement with Local Authorities 3. :The Role of the Voluntary Sector 4. :The Role of the Small and Medium Enterprises CONFERENCE PAPERS: As I shall be unable to attend the conference, please send me the available conference papers after the 99. The delegate pack will be posted after the conference, once payment has been received. Please indicate your method of payment below. SPONSORSHIP & EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES: If you are interested in sponsorship and exhibition opportunities at this conference, please tick the box below or contact Hazel Gomm on or hazel.gomm@neilstewartassociates.co.uk I am interested in sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, please contact me. HOW TO PAY: (please tick relevant box) Invoice Please send an invoice to: Purchase order number (if relevant) Cheque I enclose a cheque for made payable to Neil Stewart Associates Ltd Credit Card We can accept the following credit cards: EUROCARD Please debit from my Mastercard/Eurocard/Visa/Switch/Delta Card No. Expiry date of card Switch Issue No. Name (as on card) Issuing Bank Cardholder s address Postcode Signature Terms and Conditions This booking form constitutes a legally binding agreement. Payment must be received in full before the event. Conference details will be issued subject to receipt of payment.we cannot be held responsible for non-arrival of registration information. If you have not heard from us within 7 days prior to the conference, please contact the conference office. Cancellations confirmed in writing before Friday 15th November 2002 will be refunded minus an administration charge of 50.We regret that no refund can be made after that date, for whatever reason, although substitutions will be accepted at any time. Bookings made after Friday 15th November 2002 are non-refundable. Data Protection The personal information provided by you will be held on a database by Neil Stewart Associates Ltd. Your details may be obtained from, or made available to, external companies for marketing purposes. If you do not wish your details to be used for this purpose, please write to Neil Stewart Associates Ltd, PO Box 36472, 4 Pear Tree Court, London EC1R 0ZB