COSLA's Annual Conference tees off this week

Brodies is hitting the road this week and heading for St Andrew's which will host this year's COSLA and Improvement Service Annual Conference.

At Brodies, we are a proud champion of the public sector. We recognise the key role it plays in supporting communities, developing industry and securing better outcomes across Scotland. Members of our Government, Regulation and Competition and Corporate and Commercial teams will be showing our support for the public sector by attending the COSLA (the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) and Improvement Service Annual Conference in St Andrews this week.

The conference is the keynote event in the local government calendar and this year's focus is "Devolution: 20 years on". Across Thursday and Friday a variety of speakers and sessions will consider the key role local government has played, and will continue to play, in the delivery of devolution.

The programme invites attendees to "listen, observe or play a part by contributing to the debate" surrounding the choices facing local government and its key role in the public sector in Scotland. The full conference programme can be found online, but at Brodies we are particularly looking forward to watching the debate unfold across the following events:

Thursday

We are looking forward to hearing from Alison Evison, President of COSLA and the address by former British Prime Minister the RT Hon.Gordon Brown. Aileen Campbell, Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government will also be addressing delegates on the Scottish Government's perspective. The day will be rounded off by Scotland's First Minister, the Rt Hon Nicola Sturgeon MSP who will take to the stage on Thursday afternoon.

The Excellence Awards

Jackie McGuire and Niall McLean will be in attendance at the Excellence Awards Ceremony taking place on Thursday night. The Excellence Awards recognise those who are making a difference to people's lives every day. We congratulate everyone nominated for an award and look forward to celebrating with you all on Thursday night.

Friday

Feeling fresh on Friday, we will be listening to speakers from Openreach on Scotland becoming a world leading digital nation, and to Sir John Curtice discussing whether devolution has delivered. The conference will conclude with the Party Leaders addressing delegates on their views.

Brodies will also be exhibiting at the event. We are looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible across both days so please drop by our stand, say hello and let us know your views on the issues of the day.