Monday's Urban Hub events programme opened with The Work Foundation's breakfast discussion Hard Times:  What will the changing economic climate mean for cities?  Alexandra Jones of the Work Foundation, Simon Hughes MP, Lib Dem party president and Stephen Alambritis of the Federation of Small Businesses debated how the downturn and current turmoil in the financial markets might affect UK cities.

At lunchtime the Royal Institute of British Architects hosted a fringe event posing the question 'Can the state design happiness?'  Shadow Housing Minister, Lembit Opik, Richard Younger Ross, shadow minister for DCMS, Sunand Prasad, RIBA's president, Adrian Harvey of CABE and Angela Greatley, Chief Executive at the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health led the debate.

 

Later in the afternoon, The Core Cities Group discussed the challenges and benefits of using new financial tools to help UK cities grow.  Newcastle leader, John Shipley chaired the panel with contributions from Lib Dem treasury spokeperson, Lord Newby and Chris Murray of the Core Cities Group.

 

And finally, the Urban Hub at Liberal Democrat Conference programme closed with a fast paced Cities Question Time.  Simon Hughes, Shadow communities spokesperson, Dan Rogerson MP, Hull leader, Carol Minns and Steven Hassel of Westfield manned the panel and answered questions on affordable housing, city-regional governance and the future for urban regeneration during the economic slowdown.  Thanks to everyone who contributed to the debate.

 

And on to Manchester...