Lyons Inquiry into Local Government
News and events
This section of the website includes details of recent news and events, including press notices and other media communications and presentations.

Press Notices
27 March 2007 - Lyons Inquiry - National Conference
21 March 2007 - Lyons Inquiry final report and recommendations
19 March 2007 - Sir Michael Lyons's final report - launch and forthcoming conference
11 December 2006 - Lyons seeks views on maximising local government's contribution to future economic prosperity
6 December 2006 - Lyons Inquiry to advise Government on the implications of Barker, Leitch and Eddington for local government
20 November 2006 - Lyons publishes findings from public deliberation events
14 November 2006 - Lyons publishes summary of stakeholder events
8 September 2006 - Lyons to challenge local government and businesses to work together effectively in promoting economic prosperity
17 August 2006 - Lyons to meet businesses to discuss local economic prosperity
21 July 2006 - Lyons Inquiry engages public
5 July 2006 - "Local government's active support is needed now" says Lyons
22 June 2006 - Voluntary and community organisations have a key role to play in place shaping (Adobe Acrobat file: 100kb)
21 June 2006 - Lyons calls for councils to promote the role of housing in effective place shaping
14 June 2006 - Council finance chiefs should be "finance directors for council and community" says Lyons
8 May 2006 - Sir Michael Lyons publishes his latest thinking on the future role and function of local government
Index of press notices concerning the Lyons Inquiry
Speeches and presentations
Index of recent speeches and presentations by Sir Michael
News Archive
Index of news items featured on this site
Lyons Inquiry:
Lyons publishes summary of stakeholder events
Lyons Inquiry Press Notice: 14 November 2006
 
Sir Michael Lyons has today published three papers from some of his recent stakeholder engagement work. The first two set out the key issues discussed at the recent councillor and business engagement events held over the summer, the third provides a brief account of the Lyons Inquiry Economic Prosperity Conference held on 14 September 2006.
Sir Michael said:
"I am keen for the issues discussed at these events to be a matter of public record - they illustrate that matters of concern to local government are of equal concern to businesses and the wider community. By publishing these documents I hope I am helping to continue to extend the forum for debate and to demonstrate the levels of interest and engagement around the country in these matters"
The councillor and business meetings formed one element of a wide programme of consultation and stakeholder engagement that was undertaken as part of the evidence gathering and testing process for Sir Michaels independent Inquiry into Local Government and debated issues including:
'Economic Prosperity the local contribution' included speakers such as John Healey, Financial Secretary to HM Treasury, Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for the Department for Communities & Local Government, Lord Bruce-Lockhart of the LGA and Sir Digby Jones, former Director General of the CBI. The conference examined the emerging role for local authorities and other agencies in promoting economic growth. In particular it looked at why "the local" mattered in the context of globalisation and international competition.
These short papers are available on the Lyons Inquiry website. Further papers will be published over the next few months including a report of the public engagement events on Monday 20 November 2006.
Notes for Editors
  1. For the business events the Lyons Inquiry worked closely with a range of organisations including CBI, BCC, London First and the Small Business Service to invite a representative selection of businesses (by sector and by size) working in Coventry, Leeds; London and Newbury. Over 150 business people attended across the four meetings.
  2. For the councillor events publicity was placed in The Municipal Journal, Local Government First and on the Lyons Inquiry website seeking applicants to attend. The Inquiry held three councillor events; in London (with support from London Councils formerly the ALG), Warwickshire (with the help of Warwickshire County Council) and in Liverpool (with the help of Liverpool City Council). 75 councillors attended these meetings in total.
  3. Over 320 people attended the Economic Prosperity conference on 14 September 2006. The event was sponsored by BCC and Angle Plc and supported by the HM-Treasury, Department for Communities and Local Government and the Local Government Association.
  4. Sir Michael Lyons was originally commissioned in July 2004 by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Chancellor to make recommendations on how to reform the local government funding system by December 2005. On 20 September 2005 the remit of the Inquiry was extended to enable Sir Michael to consider issues of function before finalising his conclusions on funding.
  5. On 15 December 2005 Sir Michael issued a consultation paper and interim report. A further paper was published in May 2006 entitled "National Prosperity, local choice and civic engagement". The Inquiry will conclude with a final report to Ministers in December 2006.
  6. Copies of the reports, submissions, research commissioned, and the terms of reference for the Inquiry, can be found on the Lyons Inquiry website.
Contact details
The Lyons Inquiry has now closed. Please direct your queries to Communities and Local Government or HM Treasury.
Communities and Local Government general enquiries helpline: 020 7944 4400
HM Treasury Correspondence and Enquiry Unit: 020 7270 4558
Further contact details are available on their respective websites

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Lyons Inquiry archive
The Lyons Inquiry website has been selected for preservation by the The National Archives. Versions of this website, including publications, published documents and selected submissions, can be accessed from The UK Web Archiving Consortium website.

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