Speakers revealed for 10th Local Authority Treasurers Investment Forum and FD’s Summit

Local authority finance experts will gather for the tenth annual Room151 Local Authority Treasurers Investment Forum (LATIF)  & FD’s Summit in September.

A decade on from the Icelandic banking crisis and global financial crash, the conference will consider the regulatory changes, economic issues and funding challenges affecting the way councils manage their investments.

2018’s LATIF will see investment manager CCLA return as lead sponsor for the tenth year, with chief executive Michael Quicke, OBE, presenting the results of the 2018 Investment Treasurer’s Investment Survey.

Institute for Fiscal Studies director Paul Johnson will address delegates attending the conference’s sister stream, the FD’s Summit. In his presentation, Johnson will explore the economic outlook and the implications for local government in a world where councils increasingly rely on commercial income.

The FD’s Summit, sponsored by financial advisor PFM Advisors UK, will this year adopt the theme of fair funding, financial resilience and capital strategy.

Following the well-publicised troubles at Northamptonshire County Council, a panel of senior local government figures will discuss whether and how local government can avoid more section 114 notices.

The panel will be made up of Eleanor Kelly, chief executive at Southwark Council; Tony Kirkham, director of resources at Newcastle City Council; Sheila Little, chief financial officer at Surrey County Council; and Martin Reeves, chief executive officer at Coventry City Council.

In a separate session, James Goudie QC, head of chambers at 11KBC, and nicknamed the “Godfather of local government”, will cover the legal implications of increased commercialisation.

In the main LATIF sessions, Hetal Mehta, senior European economist at investment manager LGIM, will discuss the impact of Brexit on the UK economy.

Karen Ward, managing director, chief market strategist EMEA at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, will assess the key economic challenges ahead and how local authorities should position their portfolios accordingly.

In addition, Debbie Cunningham, chief investment officer of global money markets at adviser Federated Investors, will discuss the limitations of using AAA ratings to guide short-term investment decisions.

A technical advice panel will discuss recent regulatory updates including IFRS16 along with ring-fenced banking, audit investigations into Lender Option Borrower Option (LOBO) loans and the sustainability of local authority reserves.

More than 70 local authorities have already signed up to attend LATIF 2018 and the FD’s Summit, which take place on 20 September 2018 at the London Stock Exchange.

Read more about the conference here.
Public sector delegates can register here.