This year's LG Group conference 'Localism works', held at the Birmingham International Conference Centre, will go down in history as the first to be addressed by a serving prime minister.
Major announcements have already been made on the expansion of community budget schemes and the retention of local business rates.
The MJ has been busy talking with ministers, senior local government figures and policy-makers, listening to how the sector seeks to make use of proposed greater financial freedoms, move beyond last year's front-loaded cuts agenda and address the need to improve the quality of services.
Please find updated coverage from the conference below.
DATELINE – Thursday 30 June
DATELINE - Wednesday 29 June
Clegg announces community budgets expansion .
Business rates will be localised, says Clegg.
Devolution by default by John Atkinson.
Clark urges councils: bid to run Whitehall services.
Councillors should be Big Society taskforce says local authority leader.
Stunell seeks to allay local business rate fears.
DATELINE: Tuesday 28 June
