Back by popular demand, the second LAPV Future Fleet Forum held on 29 June, at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire, is all set to shine a spotlight on the shape of things to come in the local authority fleet management industry. The highlight of the event will be the keynote address from Keith Kerman, the Deputy comMissioner and chief fleet officer of the city of new york, the largest municipal fleet in the USA.

Future Fleet Forum brings together influencers and decision-makers from all sides of the industry: public and private sector, fleet transport and workshop managers, procurement professionals, legal experts, manufacturers and service providers … all under one roof to address key challenges faced by our industry, ranging from procurement to operational efficiency, workshop management and local authority vehicles of the future.

The forum has been devised to help improve industry standards, promote innovative thinking and bridge the gap between buyers and suppliers. The programme has once again drawn in top-level speakers and combined them with workshops, a key debate, exhibitions and demonstrations. Attendees can gain four hours of CPD from the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.

The keynote address this year will come from Keith Kerman who, as New York City's first chief fleet manager and deputy commissioner, will offer a unique perspective on the challenges of presiding over the largest municipal fleet in the USA. His fleet has an incredible 29,000 vehicles in the police and fire departments, department of sanitation, transportation and parks ... altogether, a total of 50 fleet agencies.

NYC Fleet has been leading a series of major initiatives in sustainability and safety through Mayor de Blasio's Vision Zero and NYC Clean Fleet programmes, creating one of the greenest fleets in the nation with 6,000 hybrid cars and trucks, 900 electric units, 200 natural gas vehicles, and more than 10,000 fleet pieces which use biodiesel.

With such dedication to the environment from such a huge organisation, it's hardly surprising that New York City has just won the 2016 US Green Fleet of the Year Award. It's also announced a commitment to reduce vehicle emissions by 50% by 2025 and 80% by 2050 and is investing $3.5 billion over the next 10 years to meet that goal.

Keith is also spearheading the fleet's role in the Vision Zero initiative, which is aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities in the city. Each year approximately 4,000 New Yorkers are seriously injured and more than 250 killed in traffic accidents. NYC Fleet has also implemented major initiatives in shared services, consolidation, performance management and emergency preparedness. Keith will be discussing these and looks forward to getting an international perspective while exploring how best practices from the UK could be used back home.

On Future Fleet Forum, Keith said: 'Collaboration and sharing across public and private fleets and companies throughout the United States have been key parts of NYC's fleet initiatives. We look forward to extending the conversation and partnering with fleets and fleet leaders in the UK as well.'

It is a sentiment echoed by Sylvie Giangolini, managing director at Hako Machines, one of two headline sponsors of Future Fleet Forum. She said: 'We have a duty of care to provide solutions that best fit each specific contract. This conference will allow both suppliers and procurers to have open and meaningful discussion about how to get the best out of the process and counter the current lack of understanding around recent changes to UK procurement legislation.

'The benefits of such an open forum are vast ' by working together we can improve clarity and gain an insight into industry best practice. Future Fleet Forum is the perfect opportunity to do this.'

Solicitor Jonathan Cowlan and Associate Adrian Mansbridge will present a fictitious formal interview based on the real process and techniques used in a typical Police & Criminal Evidence Act (Pace) interview.

As health and safety senior manager with commercial law firm Pinsent Masons, Jon advises clients on how to manage the risks associated with health and safety. The mock Pace interview will provide an overview of what a suspect's legal rights are, while highlighting key considerations they need to make before even attending an interview.

Jon and Adrian will also raise awareness about the ramifications of what is said during an interview and how this can be used as evidence in a prosecution.

From one scenario that could send a shudder down your spine to another that could leave you open mouthed. With the government injection of £20 million into driverless car research and trials of HGV platoons planned for the UK this year, the move to use ICT to integrate road infrastructure, vehicles and users is set to have a huge impact on transport in the near future.

Mouchel Consulting is at the forefront of such intelligent transport systems and technical director Giles Perkins will be speaking on developments in road vehicle connectivity and automation and what they will mean for fleet management and deployment.

Exhibitors at Future Fleet Forum will be eager to show off their latest products and many new ones will be here for visitors to see.

They include: : Geesinknorba (main sponsor), Hako Machines (main sponsor), Dennis Eagle, Terberg Matec, Faun Zoeller, Jaama, NRG Fleet Services, Brigade Electronics, CMS Supatrak, SC Group, Spillard Safety Systems, CILT, LoCity/ TfL.

Brigade Electronics which will be displaying a new mobile digital recording system which can capture up to 1164 hours of footage from up to eight cameras at any one time. The system can be used to provide vital evidence when false claims are made or cover accidents or vandalism. And it also supports drivers who are under increased scrutiny.

And Geesinknorba will be showing off a brand new narrow-track refuse collection vehicle. It has been developed in a collaboration with Daf Trucks and NRG Fleet Services which, together, identified the need for a competitively priced vehicle with a narrower footprint to give it excellent manoeuvrability. The result is a vehicle with a big payload but a very small turning circle making it ideal for busy urban streets.

Mick Hill, UK general manager sales and aftersales for Geesinknorba ' the other headline sponsor of Future Fleet Forum ' said: 'We are very proud of our reputation for innovation and so the idea of being closely involved in an event which is focused on fleets of the future was irresistible to us.

'We do our best to listen to customers and potential customers all-year-around ' the narrow-track vehicle bears testament to that. But by bringing so many people from different parts of the industry together, last year's Future Fleet Forum created an environment where certain issues seemed to resonate. We found that very valuable and it presented a great platform for delegates at the conference to build on.'

Alongside the static exhibits, Hako will be conducting a 'show and tell' demonstration of their compact road sweeper, the City Master 1600, inviting delegates can try their hand at operating the machine.

And with innovation all around, who better to talk about product design than Al Goodwin? He spoke about procurement at Future Fleet Forum last year but has since moved to become head of commercial at SC Group, an innovative engineering and design company that offers a one-stop shop for design, product development and manufacture.

This year he will be talking about collaboration and the value it can add to any organisation (including both suppliers and customers), common barriers and a universal five-step model to help delegates overcome any obstacles and unlock the benefits of collaboration.

Delegates will also be introduced to LoCity, a brand new industry-led programme from Transport for London designed to help the freight and fleet sector lead the way in improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions.

Over the next five years, LoCity will work with operators, vehicle manufacturers, infrastructure providers, procurers and other key stakeholders to increase the availability and uptake of low emission commercial vehicles. It will also offer guidance, tools, training and support as part of its LoCity Fleet Advice Programme.

Summing up the conference, Sylvie Giangolini said: 'We passionately believe in providing education and support to ensure fleet procurement and operational teams get the best from us and our equipment. Future Fleet Forum will provide us with the platform to achieve that.

'Speakers there will cover pretty much every hot-topic in the industry, providing value-added content for fleet operators in both the public and private sectors. I'm sure it will work for Hako and our customers once again.'

Attendees can sign up at www.futurefleetforum.co.uk, and if you use web discount code AMKFFF you will save over on the full delegate rate, paying just £59 instead of the full rate of £175.