This week’s view from the top, more appropriately called Strictly from the top comes immediately after this week’s successful Strictly Highways 2022 in Blackpool.
What an event it has been this year, our first in-person event since the pandemic, and with the size of this year’s conference, we moved into the spectacular ballroom. To see so many attendees, exhibitors, associations, and speakers supporting the event makes us immensely proud at LCRIG. There is so much I could write about, and I will look to do a more in-depth Insight piece on the conference over the next couple of weeks. Therefore, I’m only going to draw together a few observations from the packed two and a half days.
Firstly, it is a truly mammoth task pulling Strictly together and I must pay tribute to my fellow LCRIG team members for all their efforts to go above and beyond for all attendees. 277 rooms booked, over 375 attendees, combined steps for the team at over 342,000, and over 70 different councils in attendance with a wide range of exhibitors all innovating for councils.
We had a varied range of speakers from different backgrounds and nations. It was great to see representation from Northern Ireland and Wales, I think it’s important to share widely not just inter-nation but wider. And my thanks go to David Porter, Director of Engineering, Department for Infrastructure, Northern Ireland, and Dave Denner, Highways Technology Manager, Welsh Government for giving us an insight into the work they are doing. We heard from Gareth Edwards (@garius) who gave us historical insight into an Engineer that spearheaded an approach that is now widely used across Europe. Ian Large, Blackpool Council updated the audience on Innovation Fund winners and one of many highlights for me was Ann Carruthers, Director at Leicestershire County Council who talked us through the efforts that Leicestershire County Council is doing to become a Net Zero authority. I’m certain I wasn’t the only person in the room that saw some uncomfortable truths for the Government that are beyond anything any Local Authority can do! Additionally, as we saw from many presentations the impact of energy increases is making any efficiency gains almost netted out.
We had the full support of DfT, as always, and Laura, James, and Darren from DfT had a full two days of a steady stream of councils wanting to talk with them. We missed a couple of other DfT colleagues, but we will be arranging for their sessions and other DfT ones to be brought together in a special #AsktheDfT webinar (please keep your eyes out for this one).
Walking around the exhibitor stands I saw smiles, enthusiasm, and deep conversations between suppliers and councils. Not fleeting conversations but the type of conversations that will improve the services that councils provide. Multevo and Gaist, have long been huge supporters of LCRIG and we thank them as main sponsors of the event – their commitment to supporting an event for councils is second to none. Our DfT special recognition awards, didn’t have a dry eye in the house when Susanne gave her father an award for his support of her over the years.
This year’s Strictly Highways supporting good cause was introduced by Dwayne Lowe, Head of Highways at Blackburn Council. Dwayne talked with emotion about one of the Council’s Cleansing operative sons who requires life-saving cancer treatment. As we all know as NHS funds tighten, challenging decisions are made by Trust’s but in many cases, additional funding allows for extra lifesaving treatments. The cost of this treatment will be over £120,000 and for those who didn’t have cash on the evening (or couldn’t attend) but requested a link to the fundraiser page please use this following link; Elliott CAN beat skin cancer #malignantmelanomore (gofundme.com).
In true Local Government style, award recipients at the ceremony, looked humbled and shocked, and dismissive. Each award winner was totally deserving and can be found here. We also celebrated contributions for those who have sadly passed including DfT’s Steve Berry, OBE, and Peter Clay, Cumbria County Council along with recognition for those who have recently retired including John Kelly, Robert Thorn, Doug Coutts, Clive Betts and Will Britain, who formed LCRIG in the early days. Awards Ceremonies don’t happen without committed sponsorships from table sponsors and of course our judges, it was such a fantastic evening.
I want to thank our Chairs over the two days: Carol Valentine, Kent County Council, Sean Rooney, Oxfordshire County Council, and our own Martin Duffy and Alec Peachy. I also want to congratulate and celebrate our speakers, some of whom had never spoken in front of such a large audience before, for their presentations – and as an industry we need to support more of this if we are to hear from new voices on the public stage. For seasoned speakers and audiences, it is easy to forget how daunting this can be. Additionally, I applaud those whose social anxiety I know normally holds them back from networking with peers, colleagues, and exhibitors but were having conversations too. It is important that Strictly Highways and all that LCRIG does is inclusive, and I think we did that this year but there will always be more that we can do.
Finally, a big thank you to councils, exhibitors, and all those that make Strictly such a great event. I’m proud to be part of the sector and you should be too.