Bold Governance and Courageous Scruitiny

Assets, presentations and reflections from our Annual Conference held on 20 March 2025

Sessions by theme

As more assets are produced we’ll add them to the sessions you see below. If there’s something you’d like specifically you can email us at info@cfgs.org.uk.

The role of communities in governance and scrutiny

Exploring and agreeing the critical elements for thriving hyperlocal governance across England

This panel was hosted by Mel Stevens:

Stories of transformation: Engaging citizens in the changing state

This panel was hosted by Andrew Brightwell:

Who owns scrutiny? The role of community scrutiny in the scrutiny system

This panel was hosted by Mel Stevens and Dave Burn:

Moving beyond traditional consultation models to more meaningful engagement

This workshop was hosted by Mel Stevens, Professor Diana Stirbu, and Dave McKenna

Notes: Session 4 Mel’s consultation models write up (PDF)

Making Governance and Scrutiny Work

The roadmap for scrutiny in combined authorities

Workshop was hosted by Camilla de Bernhardt Lane, Natalie Rotherham, Paul Cutler and Dave Burn

Notes: The roadmap for scrutiny in combined authorities (PDF)

Building a courageous scrutiny culture

Workshop was hosted by Sarah Fenn, Heather Wills, Dave McKenna, Sunita Sharma

Notes: Scrutiny cakes recipes 2025 (PDF)

 

Place goverance

Not just the council: making governance work across a whole place

Notes: Making governance wok across a whole place (PDF)

Beyond referral: Working with Health and the role of a Memorandum of Understanding

This workshop is hosted by Camilla de Bernhardt Lane, Fional Bottrill, Daniel Webster, Joseph Bright, Natalie Rotherham  and Paul Cutler.

Notes: Beyond referral – takeaways on post-its (PDF)

 

Plenaries, and other activities

Closing plenary

Closing plenary word cloud_March 2025 (PDF)

Rose, Bud, Thorn

Rose, Bud, Thorn (PDF presentation)

Love letters to Scrutiny

Love letters to Scrutiny