In this episode, Matthew Masters speaks with Jonathan Carr-West, Chief Executive of LGIU, to unpack the deeper truths behind Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). Too often, LGR is treated as a technical exercise, focused on safely and legally creating new councils. But what if we saw it as a rare opportunity to truly transform how local democracy works?

Jonathan challenges the status quo, arguing that simply replicating old systems in new structures is like rearranging deck chairs on a sinking ship. Instead, we must ask: Why are we doing this? And more importantly, how can we do it better?

Together, they explore:

• The real purpose behind LGR and why “because central government said so” isn’t enough.
• How to seize the blank page moment to deliver better services, stronger democracy, and financial sustainability.
• What true transformation looks like and the barriers we must overcome to get there.