Title

WHITEHALL

Top MHCLG man to speak at Future Forum

The top official at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is to be a keynote speaker at The MJ’s Future Forum next month.

The top official at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is to be a keynote speaker at The MJ's Future Forum next month.

Jeremy Pocklington has been permanent secretary at MHCLG since March 2020 and was previously director general for housing at the ministry, having begun his Whitehall career at the Treasury.

He joins a star line up of speakers at the 24-hour Future Forum seminar on September 29 and 30, including chief executive of Coventry City Council Martin Reeves, chief executive of new unitary Buckinghamshire Council Rachael Shimmin, head of NHS Providers Chris Hopson, chief executive of think-tank Demos Polly Mackenzie, chief executive of Stockport MBC Pam Smith, and Rob Whiteman and Mark Lloyd, chief executives of respectively the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and the Local Government Association.

The 24-hour Future Forum will focus on the post-pandemic landscape for local government, with sessions on finance, social care, housing, devolution and the levelling up agenda.

It takes place in Sutton Coldfield and is free for local authority chief executives if they register at futureforum.themj.co.uk

WHITEHALL

Neighbourhood watch

By David Blackman | 20 February 2026

With the UK’s Shared Prosperity Fund expiring imminently, the launch of the Pride in Place programme has placed a renewed focus on neighbourhood regeneration...

WHITEHALL

Financial reform cannot wait

By Owen Mapley | 18 February 2026

Owen Mapley says the finance settlement provides breathing space for many authorities – but this is not the same as financial resilience.

WHITEHALL

The local outcomes framework comes with risks

By Ian Miller | 17 February 2026

Ian Miller says the local outcomes framework is a tool to allow Whitehall to intervene and he is concerned it could be used in future to channel resources.

WHITEHALL

Local government finance settlement leaves sector divided

By Martin Ford | 17 February 2026

The most controversial local government finance settlement for years has divided the sector. Martin Ford looks at the fallout.

Michael Burton

Popular articles by Michael Burton