Event
10 June, 2025
11:00 am - 12:00 pm

AI for local government: strategic learning

England is at a turning point in regional governance. A broad consensus in favour of devolution stretches across the political spectrum and the recent English Devolution White Paper promised “nothing less than a completely new way of governing — a generational project of determined devolution”.

If devolution is to advance, with strategic authorities taking on more responsibility for delivering key services, a significantly boost is needed to their capacity and capability to deliver.

AI can play a key role in achieving this. Automated tools can allow strategic authorities — working with other public and private sector organisations — to deliver faster, more personalised, and more efficient services. Use cases do exist and guiding principles have been developed, for example GMCA’s own principles for collaborating with residents on the use of automated decision making systems. Yet, local government’s utilisation of AI has been limited to date. Digital skills are in short supply, finance is limited, procurement is frequently delayed, and data is often poor quality and hard to access.

Re:State is delighted to welcome Caroline Simpson, Chief Executive, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, to discuss how AI can help strategic authorities develop their capacity for even deeper devolution.

This is a private roundtable which will be held under the Chatham House rule and is kindly supported by Beam.