When Nick and I started planning LGRCamp, we knew we wanted the audience to be local government folk only – plus a smattering of other bits of the public sector who have an interest. Of course there are suppliers who want to be in the room, but for a first event of this kind, there needs to be separation between the community and the commercials, to build trust. So, suppliers can come along, but they have to pony up to support the event, and they have to play by the rules.

That hasn’t stopped several commercial enterprises registering anyway, and It amuses me greatly to see them describing themselves as “other public sector” or “non-profit” or even as a council to try and slip through the net.

I’m all for building bridges between the buyers and sellers of digital products and services in the sector, but seriously, this is not helpful.