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 This is the first edition of what we hope will become a regular update to keep our members and partners informed about what’s happening in local government in the Commonwealth.
This pilot version is a conference special with highlights on our fifth Commonwealth Local Government Conference. It was hosted by the Government of the Bahamas and held in Freeport, Grand Bahama from 11-14 May, 2009. We would like to thank the Bahamas for hosting this year’s conference. The theme was Improving Local Government: the Commonwealth Vision and was an opportunity to highlight some of the recent thinking and innovations in local government. Delegates were able to hear about good practice from across the Commonwealth and see case studies of successful local government projects in Grand Bahama.
Regards
Carl Wright,
Secretary-General, CLGF
Thank you
 Thank you to all 550 delegates, both members and non-members, who attended this year’s conference. Feedback from many of you is that this was CLGF’s best conference yet. Forty-eight countries were represented at the conference by ministers of local government, elected local government mayors and leaders, officials from all spheres of government, academics, representatives from civil society, regional/international development organisations, and the private sector.
Your feedback is important to us, so if you did not have a chance to complete an evaluation form at the conference, please download one, here.
Please return the completed form to Sophia Jackson: sophia.jackson@clgf.org.uk
 This is the first time the Commonwealth Local Government Conference has been held in the Caribbean. It was chance for politicians and practitioners from that region to meet peers from across the Commonwealth, and give the rest of the Commonwealth a chance to hear about local government innovations in that region, and see examples of how small states can run successful local government. Those attending had an opportunity to contribute to international local government thinking and CLGF’s future policies and activities.
CLGC2009: Highlights
The Freeport Declaration on Improving Local Government
The Freeport Declaration on Improving Local Government sets out action for a decade of improvement for local governments in the Commonwealth. It sets out strategies for local government improvement including:
- a positive response to the global financial crisis
- financial responsibility with good financial management and accountability
- taking opportunities to improve resources
- community engagement
Download declaration
Conference background paper
The conference background paper, Improving Local Government: the Commonwealth Vision, was written by Dr Phillip Amis, director, International Development, University of Birmingham. Download report
2009 - 2011 New Board Members
 CLGF's board meeting was held on 15 May, 2009 after the conference and our 2009-2011 board members were elected. Mayor Mrs Zenaida Moya-Flowers is the successor to Basil Morrison as chair of CLGF (read biography). Our new vice chairs are Mayor Amos Masondo, Chairperson, South African Local Government Association (read biography) and Hon Hazel Manning, Minister of Local Government, Trinidad and Tobago (read biography). For more information on CLGF board members, click here.
Conference Report
The conference report will be available from early August. It will be posted out to members and available for download from www.clgc2009.org
Research colloquium
The 2009 CLGF Research Colloquium was held on 10-11 May in conjunction with the conference. It was attended by over 40 delegates from 14 countries, representing around 30 research and training institutes, donor agencies, other international organisations and local government bodies. For a full summary and to access the presentations, click here.
Issue 3 of the Commonwealth e-journal of local governance published on 14 May, 2009 at the conference.
Topics covered include: -
- Can international local government partnerships make a difference?
- From citizen participation to participatory governance
- Deeping local democracy in South Asia
- A Canadian approach to municipal consolidation in major city-regions.
CLGC2011 - Cardiff wins bid to host sixth CLGF conference
 The Commonwealth Local Government Conference is the most important international event in the local government calendar. Held every two years, 2011 will be the first time it has been held in Wales. Cardiff was selected following a keen competitive bidding process. Council leader Cllr Rodney Berman said, "I am delighted that Cardiff is hosting this conference. At this time of economic uncertainty it is imperative that local government work together to improve public services and learn best practice."
Diary note: The 2011 conference will take place from, 15- 18 March, 2011.
Read all about it
Do you have a news story that would be of interest to others involved in local government throughout the Commonwealth? If so we would like to hear from you - please e-mail susan.rhodes@clgf.org.uk or sophia.jackson@clgf.org.uk.
See all CLGF conference websites
CLGC 2009
CLGC 2007
CLGC 2005
CLGC 2003
CLGC 2000
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