Last week, we were very privileged to host the third UK-France Local Government Forum in Leeds.
The forum brought local government and combined authority leaders from across the UK and France together to meet in Leeds for a major two-day conference with the theme of social inclusion and placemaking.
The Leeds-based event, fully funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), was jointly hosted by Leeds and Bradford City Councils.
The Forum allows British and French mayors, leaders, cabinet members, councillors, and officers from sub-national government to meet and exchange views on subjects of common interest. Forum attendees included the leader of Leeds City Council, Councillor James Lewis; the leader of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe; His Majesty’s Ambassador to the French Republic, Dame Menna Rawlings; The French Ambassador in London, Hélène Duchêne, and Lord Khan of Burnley, Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for Faith, Communities, and Resettlement, among many other representatives.
Over the two days of the forum discussion topics included sharing best practices on bilateral cooperation, working together to create more resilient and inclusive communities, culture and placemaking, and the contribution of local authorities to Franco-British collaboration on global challenges.
Complementing the discussions, attendees were offered the opportunity to participate in themed study visits examining topics such as “Reconnecting communities through neighbourhood twinning” at Chapel FM Arts Centre, “Placemaking for the 21st century” in Bradford City Centre, and “Culture is our plan - shaping communities together”, in Saltaire, Bradford.
This year’s forum was extra special, coming as it did in the 120th anniversary year of the Entente Cordiale, a series of agreements signed in London that ushered in a new era of cooperation and understanding between the UK and France.
The Leader of Leeds City Council, Councillor James Lewis, said: “The ties between the UK and France are deep, historic and vital, and the partnerships between our communities sustain and enrich those ties.
“I’m honoured to welcome delegates from across the UK and France to Leeds, a city twinned with Lille since 1968 and one of the UK’s leading exponents of city diplomacy. Our culturally rich and diverse city, with its comprehensive strategy for inclusive growth and placemaking, makes Leeds the ideal host for this forum.
“I look forward to sharing our local experiences and learning from other leaders across the UK and France on how we can improve our local offer and make Leeds one of the most welcoming and inclusive places to live and work.”
His Majesty’s Ambassador to the French Republic, Dame Menna Rawlings DCMG CVO, said: “As we come to the end of our year of celebrations for the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale, I’m pleased to be in Leeds for the UK/France Local Government Forum.
“The Forum looks to nurture links between cities and towns in our two countries, promoting dialogue, friendship and mutual understanding. In this way, we want to ensure that UK/France relations support growth and opportunities across the whole of the UK, leading to more trade, tourism and investment.
“I’m delighted that Leeds has been chosen to host the Forum this year, given the city’s partnership with Lille since 1968 which has done so much to promote exchanges between young people, academics, businesses, arts and culture.”
The French Ambassador in London, Hélène Duchêne, said: “France and the United Kingdom are allies and neighbours. Dialogue and exchanges between the local authorities and civil society in our two countries are central to the richness of our bilateral relationship. Twinnings, partnerships and meetings enable us to forge personal ties which, we know, nurture and enrich our daily cooperation.
"This irreplaceable cooperation is illustrated in the fields of the ecological transition, economic development, tourism and culture, and in international solidarity, particularly with regard to Ukraine.
"Following the commitment made at the March 2023 summit, I particularly welcome recent advances that facilitate school trips between our two countries. The future of our bilateral relationship is built on these trips, which create lasting bonds between young French and British people.”
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