In this episode, I sit down with Scott Tompkins, an expert in Highways, Transport, and Place, to delve into three critical issues facing the Place Agenda with Local Authorities.

1. Finances: The impact of austerity on local authority budgets, the rise of S114 notices, and the difficult balance between statutory duties and ‘nice-to-haves’. We discuss how authorities are stretching capital spending guidelines to cover revenue needs, and the long-term consequences for infrastructure resilience.
2. Resources: The growing skills shortage across local authority roles, particularly in highways planning. Scott highlights the struggle to recruit and retain skilled staff, the over-reliance on agency workers, and the innovative approaches some councils are taking to develop their own talent pipelines.
3. Decarbonisation and Climate Change: The financial and resource constraints that impact the pace of decarbonisation efforts. Scott discusses the balance between immediate actions and long-term investments, the role of new technologies, and the importance of developing comprehensive decarbonisation plans. We also explore initiatives like tree planting and the use of renewable energy sources to reduce carbon footprints.

Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of these complex issues and hear Scott’s expert perspective on potential solutions and future directions for local authorities.