This year’s event will take place on Thursday 11 June in the historic city of Bath.
This free-to-attend event, hosted by Bath & North East Somerset Council, is the perfect opportunity to engage with representatives from national government, local leaders, and private-sector delegates. Discussions will focus on the challenges facing our cities, particularly how public-private partnerships are evolving beyond simple financing mechanisms into integrated delivery approaches that align investment, policy and local priorities.
Under the theme Partnering for Prosperity, the day will feature discussions on how UK cities can enable growth. Panels will explore housing, cultural identity, climate action and infrastructure. These will be followed by optional walking tours of the Milsom Quarter or the Bath Central Riverside regeneration project.
PROGRAMME
10:00 Arrivals and refreshments
10:30 Welcome from host
Sophie Broadfield, Chief Executive, Bath & North East Somerset Council
10:35 Welcome from Key Cities
Councillor John Merry, Chair, Key Cities
10:40 Panel one – Housing: Meeting the need and accelerating opportunity
Speakers include:
- Alan Caddick, Interim Director of Housing Transformation, Salford City Council
- Lisa Gledhill, Managing Director – National Partnerships, Muse (Habiko)
- Patrick Melia, Chief Executive, Sunderland Council
- Joe Marshall, Chief Investment and Development Officer, SNG
- Suzanne Benson, Partner, Trowers & Hamlins
- Chair – Sophie Broadfield, Chief Executive, Bath & North East Somerset Council
11:25 Panel two – The power of place and cultural identity
Speakers include:
- Holly Lewis, Co-founding Partner, We Made That
- Sophie McKinlay, Re-Fashioning Bath Project Director, Heritage Services, Bath & North East Somerset Council
- Fiona Boundy, Creative and Cultural Strategy Manager, Milton Keynes City Council
- Professor Andy Salmon, Pro-Vice-Chancellor External, Bath Spa University
- Chair – Councillor Jemima Laing, Deputy Leader, Plymouth City Council, and Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, Culture and Communications. Chair of Corporate Parenting Group, Key Cities Portfolio Lead on Culture
12:10 Networking lunch
13:00 Panel three – Climate and long-term resilience
Speakers include:
- Councillor Sarah Warren, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and Sustainable Travel, Bath & North East Somerset Council
- Professor Sheela Agarwal, Associate Head of School of Research and Innovation for Plymouth Business School, University of Plymouth
- Leah Stuart, Director, Civic
- Malcolm Howting, Project Management Partner, Stace
- Chair – Leanne Tritton, Chair, The London Society and Founder, Don’t Waste Buildings
13:45 Panel four – Infrastructure empowered regional competitiveness
Speakers include:
- Councillor Dimitri Batrouni, Leader, Newport City Council
- Richard Bonner, Managing Director, AtkinsRéalis
- Kirsten Lees, Partner, Grimshaw
- Sophie Broadfield, Chief Executive, Bath & North East Somerset Council
- Gráinne Gilmore, Director of Research and Insights, Cluttons
- Chair – Tom Hawkins, Associate Director, ING
14:30 Concluding remarks from Key Cities and host
Councillor John Merry, Chair, Key Cities, and Sophie Broadfield, Chief Executive, Bath & North East Somerset Council
14:45 Walking tours depart
Milsom Street, Fashion Museum and Studio 22, then Broad Street Yards and Broad Street Place and finally Walcot Gateway.
Tour guides: Wendy Maden and Tyron Tucker
No maximum capacity.
Guildhall and market, the on to Colonnades and Pulteney Weir and Parade Garden and Terrace Walk.
Tour guide: Georgi Tyler, Bath Place Manager
Maximum participants: 15 people
Both tours will end at the Roman Baths.
15:30 Close
Date: Thursday 11 June 2026
Time: 10am – 3pm
Venue: Guildhall, Bath
To secure your place, register via Eventbrite here.
