Devo is back but what might it look like this time around? Jonathan and Andrew read the tea leaves. And Ingrid spoke with Luke Nicholls from SGS, our partner organisation in Australia, about local government's role tackling the devastating recent bushfires.

We introduce our new LGiU Australia service, launching soon and start the shift towards a more international outlook right here on the podcast, bringing you stories of innovative practice from across our services in Ireland, Australia, Scotland and England & Wales. Including ambitious climate targets, study visits to improve child services, our guide to speed reading and the Innovation in Politics awards in Berlin. 

PS Don't forget to take our listener survey to let us know what you think about the show and the chance to win one of our highly coveted LGiU Fortnightly mugs!

https://lgiu.org/lgiu-fortnightly-24-january-devo-2-0-and-lessons-from-australia/

https://lgiu.org/podsurvey/

It's a new year, a new decade and a new government, but there's still a lot of unfinished business from the last. We look over some of the big ideas LGiU has promoted over the last ten years and that we still think need addressing as well as highlighting some of our top content from 2019.

Also take our listener survey to let us know what you think about the show and the chance to win one of our highly coveted LGiU Fortnightly mugs.

With the general election looming, we hear from councillors who've been out on the doorstep. Cllr Abi Brown, Leader of Stoke-on-Trent and Cllr Michael Payne, Deputy Leader of Gedling and Chair of LGiU, tell us what this election could mean for local government, what should be prioritised by the new Government and how councils can help tackle un-democratic behaviour.

Plus the highlights from our recent member-only content, including our General Election bundle and manifesto briefings.

Hosted by Andrew Walker with interviews by @Ingrid Koehler. Tweet us @LGiU.

Can we call it a comeback? The placeshaping agenda has been making a quiet return in town halls across the country, forging ahead without grand frameworks from Whitehall. Liz Watts, South Cambridgeshire chief, tells us how her council is managing huge increases in housing developments by getting residents involved at the early stages. Stacey Arnold from Cancer Research UK brings the health perspective, explaining how councils are tackling obesity and smoking through clever planning and behaviour change initiatives.

Plus the highlights from our recent member-only Daily News bulletins, including general election promises on business rates reforms, the recent Supreme Court ruling on the bedroom tax, the huge rise in council spending on temporary accommodation, and the unfolding impact of GDPR on local government.

Hosted by Jen Glover and Andrew Walker. Tweet us @LGiU

This week LGiU England hosted our annual Cllr Achievement Awards, welcoming councillors from across the country to celebrate the amazing work done by councillors. We speak to all the winners about their work and we catch up with LGA Chairman Cllr James Jamieson. Congratulations to Cllr Raushan Ara, Cllr Mete Coban, Cllr Sally Longford, Cllr Janet Gardner, Cllr David Beaney, Cllr Lord Peter Smith and Cllr Darren Rodwell!

Hosted by Jen Glover, Jonathan Carr-West and Ingrid Koehler. Tweet us @LGiU

More about the winners: https://lgiu.org/lgiu-ccla-cllr-achievement-awards-2019-the-winners/

How do we know if our work is having the right impact? Local government deals with some of the thorniest problems in the public sector where there are no blueprints or universally accepted 'right' answers.

This week we explore the changing face of public service delivery in a post-performance indicator world with Jon Ainger, Director at Impower. Jon talks us through their new book Edgework Manifesto which challenges our definition of effective local public services and asks whether we are identifying the right problems. He argues that local government deals with 'complex' problems which have no pre-defined or replicable answer – as opposed to 'complicated' problems which, although difficult, can be managed through processes and blueprints. Complex problems require a new relationship between the council and citizens that moves away from the idea of customer satisfaction and towards co-production.

Hosted by Jen Glover, Andrew Walker and Ingrid Koehler. Tweet us @LGiU

Brexit is already a reality in local government – chief executives are engaging with preparations on a daily basis and have allocated the equivalent of 1-3 full time staff to these activities. Hear more results from our latest survey, in which we asked UK council chief executives all about how they're planning for Brexit. We also announce the shortlist for our annual Cllr Achievement Awards and discuss exciting new website features launching for LGiU members next week!

Plus our regular roundup of member-only policy briefings and highlights from our Daily News emails, including Greater Manchester's transport ambitions, Essex's tree-planting work and Norwich winning the RIBA prize for their social housing.

Hosted by Jonathan Carr-West and Andrew Walker. Tweet us @LGiU.

27th September - Keeping the show on the road by Local Government: In Conversation

As the 31st October approaches, councils across the country are preparing for a no-deal Brexit scenario – with very little guidance and minimal resources. As a major import centre for animal feed and pharmaceuticals, Cllr Tudor Evans, Leader of Plymouth City Council, tells us about his concerns for managing increased traffic through the city's port, the SoS's surprise announcement that councils are now responsible for dealing with Brexit-related economic issues, and the lack of advice and funding from central government.

Plus a taster from our latest member-only briefings on New Towns and the Spending Round, and highlights from our Daily News service. Featuring stories on Extinction Rebellion protesting council infrastructure projects, Portsmouth's proposed clean air charge, warnings about declining SEND provision, Islington's fur trade ban and an 'immersive fire garden' in NE Lincolnshire.

Hosted by Jennifer Glover and Jonathan Carr-West, with interviews by Ingrid Koehler. Tweet us @LGiU

A thriving community is what everyone in local government aspires to create and that's exactly what Ingrid found in the beautiful Welsh town of Llandrindod Wells. Hear about the community orchard run by Transition Llandrindod, the life of a Town Crier, the Victorian Festival and how to run a community cafe. We also discuss the turbulent national political picture, making (foolhardy) predictions about next week's spending round.

Plus our regular roundup of daily news stories, including heating Islington using waste energy from the tube, declining health and safety prosecutions, Sheffield's committee system bid, South Norfolk's new alpaca herd and a mystery bus shelter renovation in Stroud.

Hosted by Jennifer Glover and Ingrid Koehler. Tweet us @LGiU