With a packed agenda that tackles the essential challenges behind LATCos, including how they are run, how to set them up, and the benefits to operations, the conference is driven by experts in the field and will provide attendees with expert takeaways. Register your place here.
The Main Auditorium will be the primary location for the majority of the day, with Workshop sessions during twice (once in the morning and once in the afternoon) in Breakout Rooms, plus networking breaks and refreshments available in the main Foyer.
Your ticket gets you access to all areas of the conference, including the Workshop Sessions for in-depth and detailed discussions, as suggested by our 2026 delegate feedback.
Thursday, April 15, 2027
Keynote: The View of LATCos from Westminster
The Current Landscape for LATCos
An overview looking at the recent and current business environment, LATCO numbers and prospects for LATCos,
The Impact of Local Government Reorganisation on LATCos
A panel session on managing contracts during LGR and what happens to LATCos when their owner councils are abolished and replaced with new unitaries from 2028. The conference takes place just before the election of new shadow authorities under LGR.
Coffee Break and Networking
The Council Perspective: Why Set Up a LATCo and How to Scale It
Councils and LATCos discuss the reasons for deploying the model and early-stage deployment and development.
The Council Perspective: Managing the Council’s Relationship with its LATCo
A panel session on how councils, once they have created their LATCos, manage the ongoing relationship including contracts, governance and finance.
Lunch and Networking
Workshop A: Legal Contracts & Procurement
This session will provide hands-on experience handling disputes and exit planning and utilising the Teckal exemption to avoid formal tendering.
Workshop B: Governance in Practice
A practical look at who should actually sit on the board, including the balance of Executive vs. Non-Executive Directors, and managing conflicts of interest. How to establish transparent, non-bureaucratic reporting lines back to the parent council to ensure oversight without stifling commercial agility.
Workshop C: Ensuring Commercialism While Balancing Social Objectives
Winning private sector work; pricing competitively; dealing with scrutiny and council obligations; and monitoring performance.
Case Studies: How to Avoid Failure and How To Learn From It
Honest insights from where a LATCo didn’t go to plan, what went wrong, and what others can do to avoid the same pitfalls.
Investment: Using LATCos to Maximise Asset Value
How LATCos can help maximise a local authority’s asset base and generate income.
Coffee Break and Networking
Workshop A: Legal Contracts & Procurement (Repeat)
This session will provide hands-on experience handling disputes and exit planning and utilising the Teckal exemption to avoid formal tendering.
Workshop B: Governance in Practice
A practical look at who should sit on the board, including the balance of Executive vs. Non-Executive Directors, and managing conflicts of interest. How to establish transparent, non-bureaucratic reporting lines back to the parent council to ensure oversight without stifling commercial agility.
Workshop C: Ensuring Commercialism While Balancing Social Objectives
Winning private sector work; pricing competitively; dealing with scrutiny and council obligations; and monitoring performance.
Closing Town Hall: The Delegate Agenda
Instead of a pre-scripted presentation, the hosts or facilitators of the day’s "Hosted Tables" are invited onto the main stage to form the closing panel. The session is framed as a review of the biggest challenges, debates, and "lightbulb moments" that came directly from the delegates that day.