FUTURE CITIES FORUMTM

Image: aerial view of housing and garden square in South Kensington, SW7 Find out about this important finance and HR position at The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The Council says: 'Your focus will be providing strategic leadership and clear ownership across our core business platforms, including Oracle Fusion and Revenues and Benefits systems. Managing a dedicated team of just over 20 people, you will establish robust governance, drive high standards of service m

Image: panorama of Kirklees in West Yorkshire - courtesy of Kirklees MBC which comprises the ten towns of Batley, Birstall, Cleckheaton, Dewsbury, Heckmondwike, Holmfirth, Huddersfield, Meltham, Mirfield, and Slaithwaite Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council in West Yorkshire is seeking to appoint two motivated, enthusiastic and organised planning professionals who can make a significant contribution in helping to lead the performance and achievements of its Development Manag

Image: Tom Warth - courtesy of The Planning Directorate The Planning Inspectorate has recently announced the permanent appointment of Tom Warth as Chief Operating Officer (COO), following a competitive recruitment process. Tom has held the role of interim COO for the past eight months, overseeing the Inspectorate's five services using the skills and experience he has built in his many years with the Inspectorate taking on a variety of key roles. He originally joined as a cas

Image: view of the refurbished Preston bus and coach station- courtesy Gareth Gardner / Buro Happold HEAD OF PLANNING POLICY - Preston City Council Salary: £55,224 – £56,293 per annum - pay award pending 37 hours per week, Monday-Friday Preston City Council is looking to recruit a Head of Planning Policy for its Development and Housing Directorate. Preston is at an unprecedented stage in its development. With widespread public sector city centre regeneration projects underwa

Image: The Local Government Association's HQ in Smith Square, London SW1 (credit Creative Commons - Amelials) Ambitions to rewire the state and boost good growth across the country will only succeed if the Government confronts the financial crisis facing councils and local services and turbo-charges genuine English devolution, the Local Government Association (LGA) reports. The Prime Minister has set out ambitions for fiscal devolution and widespread devolution to local area

Image: Heather Fearfield of Future Cities Forum opening discussions in the Fitzhugh auditorium at Cohen Quad, Exeter College Oxford Future Cities Forum is releasing part one of the report from its 'Science Cities and devolution' discussions held last week at Cohen Quad, Exeter College, Oxford. Contributors included David Butler, Director of Planning and Regeneration, Oxford City Council, Kim Sawyer, Programme Director for Devolution at Oxfordshire County Council, Sophie Lloy

Future Cities Forum is delighted that Sophie Broadfield will join Future Cities Forum's 'Innovation cites' discussions at the new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus. Sophie is Chief Executive of Bath and North East Somerset Council. She was previously Executive Director of Sustainable Communities at the Council, responsible for place services and ambitious plans for the economy, climate and housing. Before joining local government, Sophie worked in central government in HM Trea

Image: courtesy Manchester City Council Manchester City Council is updating its regeneration plans for the Manchester Piccadilly area ahead of the arrival of Northern Powerhouse Rail increasing opportunities for the area. It is advertising for a consultancy team to shape the updated Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) which will guide investment in the area to ensure new jobs, housing, public space and other potential benefits for Manchester people are fully captured. The

Image: courtesy of the Horniman Museum & Gardens The Horniman Museum & Gardens' £12.5m Nature + Love redevelopment will culminate early next year with the reopening of its natural history gallery - reports the Museums Association. The Nature Gallery will open to the public from 5 February 2027, showcasing more than 2,300 objects, from the museum’s famous stuffed walrus to a new display about plastic pollution co-created with children from a local school. A hands-on Nature Dis

Image: courtesy Sheffield City Council Sheffield City Council has recently announced a revised time-table for the regeneration of Castle Hill Park. While the park will open later than originally anticipated, the changes will ensure the remains of Sheffield’s medieval Castle are properly preserved, celebrated and incorporated into a landmark new public space on the historic Castlegate site. Sheffield City Council continues to work closely with Historic England, the Local Plann