Blog: Friday 13th November - Deborah Evans, LLG CEO: Good governance starts with better conversations

Deborah Evans, LLG CEO

Good governance starts with better conversations

Good governance is about more than having the right constitution, policies or procedures. It is about what happens when those frameworks meet real life: a difficult decision, an ambitious project, a changing organisation or a complaint that raises questions nobody anticipated. For local government lawyers and governance professionals, that is where the work becomes both challenging and rewarding.

This November, the LLG Governance Conference offers space to step back from the immediate demands of the inbox and explore those challenges together.

The programme brings together questions that cut across our professional lives. How do we translate ethical principles into everyday organisational culture? What does the evolving role of the Monitoring Officer mean for those carrying its responsibilities, and for the deputies preparing to take them on? How can legal and governance teams help councils navigate change while keeping accountability clear?

These are not abstract debates. They shape the advice we give, the questions we ask and the decisions our organisations make. Sessions will explore standards and conduct, regeneration risk, devolution and local government reorganisation, connecting the bigger governance picture with the realities of working in an authority.

There is an opportunity to look beyond the headlines on artificial intelligence. One discussion will consider the changing nature of complaints and information requests when AI enters the conversation. On the second day, delegates will hear about one council’s experience of AI adoption: a chance to explore what moving from experimentation towards everyday use can involve.

For those attending in person, three parallel programmes on the opening day offer a choice of sessions reflecting different roles and interests. Dedicated junior lawyer sessions will explore good governance in practice and career possibilities. AMO members will have dedicated opportunities to consider leadership through change, discuss current challenges and access individual coaching, with advance booking needed for limited sessions.

The online second day continues the practical focus. Topics include the alliancing model in commercial contracts, technical governance in planning, social care cost recovery and the implications of reorganisation for council companies, joint ventures and other entities. Together, these sessions offer opportunities to connect specialist knowledge with the wider responsibilities of public service.

The conference creates room for conversation, reconnect with colleagues, meet new contacts and compare experiences. Sometimes a conversation with someone facing a similar question can be as valuable as the session that prompted it.

Whether you are establishing your career, developing a specialism or carrying statutory responsibilities, join us on Friday 20 November 2026, in person at ETC, 8 Fenchurch Place, London, or remotely, followed by the online day 2 on Friday 27 November.

BOOK HERE