Let’s do it…Join the debate at Bury Futures 2030 showcase - don't miss this up and coming series of events

Let’s do it…Join the debate at Bury Futures 2030 showcase

Bury Futures is a series of events to provide a showcase to the Bury 2030 Strategy. There will be a four talks from various speakers to inspire and provoke conversations that matter, focussing on three objectives:

· To showcase the Bury 2030 Strategy

· To discuss intriguing ideas for towns as they emerge

· To generate some publicity for the story that Bury has to tell

The series will be led by Philip Collins, who was born and educated in Bury and is now contributing editor at the New Statesman and the author of the 2017 Life Chances report for Bury Council. Philip will be in conversation with some local and national leaders, to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of our borough and ideas behind the vision for the next 10 years

In the first event at 7pm on 11 February 2021 is entitled ‘Local’. Philip will be talking to Barclays Bank, who chose to work with Bury as one of their pilot sites to understand what makes a Thriving Local Economy. Philip will reflect on his analysis from the Bury Life Chances research in 2017; understand Barclays’ current analysis and establish how community leaders are experiencing the local and unique challenges and opportunities across different townships.

The second event at 7pm on 23 February is entitled ‘Enterprise’ . This will be a conversation on the role of public bodies and industrial strategies in promoting local prosperity, hosted by Philip Collins, with Bury born Professor Diane Coyle, co-director of the Bennett Institute for Public Policy, University of Cambridge and Mike Emmerich, a veteran of HM Treasury, 10 Downing Street and Manchester City Council who is the Founding Director of Metro Dynamics, a consultancy that advises the metro-mayors on the future of urban communities.

The third event at 7pm on 4 March is entitled ‘Together’. This will be discuss the role of community leadership and what really constitutes collective power. In this conversation Philip will be joined by Sajid Hashmi MBE, Independent Chair of the Bury Voluntary and Community Faith Alliance, and Vicky Maloney, Chief Executive of Early Break and Chair of the Bury Children and Young People Forum.

The final event at 2pm on 4 March is entitled ‘Strengths’. This will consider the Borough’s opportunities to bring together education, health and the arts in creating a flourishing sense of place. This will be a conversation with Steph Meskell-Brocken from the Met, who has contributed to Developing a Sense of Place, a book on the role the arts can play in regeneration communities. Steph will discuss Bury’s accolade as the first Greater Manchester Town of Culture. Phil will also be joined by Professor Sir Michael Barber, former head of the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit and the chief executive of Delivery Associates, how which helps towns and cities all over the world deliver top-class public service.

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, leader of Bury Council, said:

“Bury Futures is an exciting opportunity to connect with people who have a link to our towns, whether they grew up here, live here, or work here. We want as many people as possible to be part of these discussions and contribute their thoughts and ideas about our Borough's future.

“We want to see how these ideas will complement our Bury 2030 strategy going forward and I look forward to speaking at the final event on the strengths of Bury. This is an exciting opportunity for Bury to lead the discussions about how we renew our towns across the country and build back better.”

For more details and joining links for each session visit www.bury.gov.uk/BuryFutures

ENDS

Editor’s notes:

1. Local: 11 February 7pm

Covid-19 is the greatest challenge Bury has faced in living memory. It has affected every business and every community in some way. At best it has been disruptive, at worst it has been devastating.

Three years after writing the Bury Life Chances report, Philip Collins, in conversation with Barclays bank and local community leaders, will reflect on what the pandemic has meant for the Borough, how it has changed the principles and thinking behind Bury’s strategy for the next decade and how that thinking is reflected in the Bury 2030 Strategy document Let’s do it

Philip Collins is the contributing editor at The New Statesman, columnist at the Evening Standard and author of the Bury Life Chances report 2017.

Barclays chose Bury to work with as one of a number of national pilot sites to establish what constitutes a Thriving Local Economy and develop particular interventions to drive prosperity.

Representatives will join the discussion from the Bury Community Support Network, which provides crisis and resilience support to families across the Borough.

2. Enterprise: 23 February 7pm

The pandemic has exacerbated underlying inequalities in Bury in, for example, healthcare and housing. But the pandemic also offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to address some of the greatest challenges we face as a society. It demands that we build back better.

In the second event, Philip Collins will host a conversation between Professor Diane Coyle and Mike Emmerich to reflect on what the pandemic means for our towns. What role can local government play in creating a thriving economy? And what can central government do to help our towns rebuild after the pandemic?

Professor Diane Coyle is the co-director of the Bennett Institute for Public Policy, University of Cambridge. She sponsored the Local Industrial Strategy through the Greater Manchester Prosperity Review.

Mike Emmerich, a veteran of HM Treasury, 10 Downing Street and Manchester City Council, is the Founding Director of Metro Dynamics, a consultancy that advises the metro-mayors on the future of urban communities.

3. Together: 4^th March 7pm

Bury 2030 represents a completely new relationship between public services, communities and businesses which is based on co-design and accountability for shared decision making. It is about doing “with” not “to” by bringing a greater focus on wellbeing, prevention and early intervention.

Achieving this requires us to develop relationships at every level, taking responsibility together for making a difference by valuing and developing the role and voices of people and communities to shape and deliver, wherever we can; growing relationships and new connections across boundaries; and demonstrating dignity, kindness and respect in everything we do.

In this conversation, Philip Collins will be in discussion with Sajid Hashmi MBE, independent chair of the Bury Voluntary and Community Faith Alliance, which is the local voluntary and community infrastructure organisation for the Borough and Vicky Maloney, the Chief Executive of Early Break, to consider the role of community leadership and working together to achieve shared outcomes for the Borough.

4. Strengths: 11 March 2pm

There’s nothing more important than a place we can call home. The pandemic proved just how important good quality housing and a safe, clean environment is to a happy, healthy life. This is a place rich in possibility. But how do we preserve and cherish it for future generations?

In this panel conversation, hosted by Philip Collins, Eamonn O’Brien, Steph Meskell-Brocken and Professor Sir Michael Barber will reflect on the role health, education, and culture have to play in creating a thriving community.

Eamon O’Brien is the leader of Bury Council.

Steph Meskell-Brocken, Learning and Education Manager at The Met in Bury, has contributed to Developing a Sense of Place, a book on the role the arts can play in regeneration communities.

Professor Sir Michael Barber is a former head of the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit and the chief executive of Delivery Associates which helps towns and cities all over the world deliver top-class public service.