Local Government East has been running a series of roundtable discussions over the last few years, and this programme continues into 2025/26. These sessions are open to all councils in the East of England and their partner organisations. At the Local Government East roundtable, you will hear from a guest speaker on each theme and have an opportunity to learn from, and share your own examples of, best practice, opportunities, and challenges.
With the Government’s committed to delivering up to 8GW of local and community energy, along with a wider drive towards renewable energy provision, it has been identified that there is a role for local government to lead, encourage and incubate energy knowhow within the region.
Within this roundtable, we are keen to explore how far local government can be involved in energy. In the past, local authorities were large energy providers – is the modern era of green energy and renewable generation a chance to do the same, and bake energy resilience into our communities? We would like to discuss whether there was a role for local government in such provision, and if so, how this could be achieved.
Speakers include:
- Jonathan Davison from the Greater South East Net Zero Energy Hub will showcase the leading role that local government can take in building resilient local energy systems that also deliver clean power ambitions. We will look at how projects can create local economic growth, boost local businesses, and benefit communities
- Fiona Lettice from Hethel Innovation will talk about how Norfolk County Council have encouraged the development of their local energy cluster.
- Daire Casey from West Sussex County Council will talk about how his county council has run with the opportunities provided to them, and have entered the energy market with their own solar farms.
Who should attend: Local councillors and officers, particularly those in planning, asset management, economic development and community management around energy.
Please note: if this session is oversubscribed places will be limited to 2 – 3 people per authority.
If you have any queries please contact Matthew Stewart, Policy and Programmes Manager, Local Government East, email; matt.stewart@localgoveasteng.gov.uk
