A Conference Organised By Suffolk County Council
Trinity Park, Ipswich, UK
7th September 2007
Participants:
CLLR GUY McGREGOR, Suffolk County Council (Chair)
DAVID FROST, British Chamber of Commerce
ROB MAIDMENT, Suffolk Development Agency
ANDY CAMERON, WSP Consultants
SAMIRA AHMED, B Sky B
ROGER TURKINGTON, Suffolk ACRE
COLIN IRLAM, Suffolk County Council
I was originally attracted to this meeting by a number of factors. To begin with, the focus of the conference was local to where I live, and the issue of transport is one that will affect me – personally - for some time to come. I was also interested in observing the state of play with regards to Foresight in the Public Sector. One could quite well argue that the UK is one of the leading exponents of Public Sector Foresight. However, there is a view that this is confined to the national level and has not really permeated down to the level of Local Government in the UK. I wanted to test this hypothesis. Finally, our research indicates that one of the major trends within society is the shift of allegiance away from the national and towards the community. I wanted to gain a feel for the community in which I happen to live and work.
Trinity Park, Ipswich, UK
7th September 2007
Participants:
CLLR GUY McGREGOR, Suffolk County Council (Chair)
DAVID FROST, British Chamber of Commerce
ROB MAIDMENT, Suffolk Development Agency
ANDY CAMERON, WSP Consultants
SAMIRA AHMED, B Sky B
ROGER TURKINGTON, Suffolk ACRE
COLIN IRLAM, Suffolk County Council
I was originally attracted to this meeting by a number of factors. To begin with, the focus of the conference was local to where I live, and the issue of transport is one that will affect me – personally - for some time to come. I was also interested in observing the state of play with regards to Foresight in the Public Sector. One could quite well argue that the UK is one of the leading exponents of Public Sector Foresight. However, there is a view that this is confined to the national level and has not really permeated down to the level of Local Government in the UK. I wanted to test this hypothesis. Finally, our research indicates that one of the major trends within society is the shift of allegiance away from the national and towards the community. I wanted to gain a feel for the community in which I happen to live and work.
The Conference was a first step in the engagement with the future. It was a good first step, and we ought not to expect too much from that first step. It will be interesting to see what comes from the Conference. If it is a stand alone event, then it would take on the characteristics of an opportunity missed. If, however, it was to represent the start of a process by which there is a discussion about what futures are possible and what futures are desired, then we shall all look back at the afternoon as quite a memorable event.
READ the full report.
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