Our World Is Local

In this latest episode of Our World is Local, our hosts Nick Kilby (Cratus Group) and Heather Jameson (The MJ) are joined by Jonathan Stephenson, Chief Executive at Brentwood Borough Council and Rochford District Council. 

During the discussion, Jonathan talks about the unique challenge of managing two councils that are not conjoined by a geographical border, and his own experience of election day dramas at the polling stations. 

Jonathan then goes on to talk about the advent of the Public Sector Challenge, his charity fundraising initiative which has raised over £60,000 for Cancer Research UK - and returns this September with over 500 participants and partners from across the public, private and local government sector who will take on the Yorkshire Three Peaks.

To learn more about the Public Sector Challenge, you can visit publicsectorchallenge.co.uk. 

Hosted by Cratus Group Executive Chairman Nick Kilby and the Editor of The MJ, Heather Jameson, the ‘Our World is Local’ podcast is a space to learn about the key figures in local government, highlighting the tremendous work they do for the communities they serve. You can listen to the previous episodes ⁠here⁠.

You can listen to the previous episodes ⁠⁠on Spotify here⁠ and wherever else you listen to your podcasts.

In this episode, Nick Kilby and Heather Jameson are joined by two special guests as we look ahead to next week's Local Elections that are taking place across England. 

Nick and Heather are first joined by New Local's Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Jessica Studdert, to talk about the upcoming election cycle and what it could mean for the state of national politics. Cratus Group's Duncan Flynn then joins the conversation to dive into the details regarding specific local authorities and the contests to watch out for.

Hosted by Cratus Group Executive Chairman Nick Kilby and the Editor of The MJ, Heather Jameson, the ‘Our World is Local’ podcast is a space to learn about the key figures in local government, highlighting the tremendous work they do for the communities they serve. You can listen to the previous episodes ⁠here⁠.

You can listen to the previous episodes ⁠⁠on Spotify here⁠ and wherever else you listen to your podcasts.

In this episode, Nick Kilby and Heather Jameson are joined by Rob Whiteman, who is the out-going Chief Executive of CIPFA.

Rob is a well-known commentator and expert on public service reform and modernisation on a wide range of areas, and in 2008 was named one of the ten most influential people in local government by the Local Government Chronicle. 

The trio go in-depth during this conversation about the problems, and the potential solutions that exist in the ever-volatile world of local government.

Hosted by Cratus Group Executive Chairman Nick Kilby and the Editor of The MJ, Heather Jameson, the ‘Our World is Local’ podcast is a space to learn about the key figures in local government, highlighting the tremendous work they do for the communities they serve. You can listen to the previous episodes ⁠here⁠.

You can listen to the previous episodes ⁠⁠on Spotify here⁠ and wherever else you listen to your podcasts.

In this special episode of Our World is Local, Nick Kilby and Heather Jameson travelled to the Leader's Office in the Birmingham City Council chambers to sit down with the Leader of the Council, John Cotton.

In 2023, Birmingham City Council suffered the ignominy of having to issue not one but two section 114 notices. An effective bankruptcy order meaning that a council can no longer meet its financial obligations and needs government assistance. The root of the financial problems at Birmingham City Council is an equal pay claim that has been building up for decades and which will cost the council £760m to settle. An IT contract that ballooned in cost by £80m is also contributing to the pain but would have been manageable without the pay claim. 

The council’s leadership team and government-appointed commissioners have spent recent months putting together a budget for 2024/25 and the cabinet agreed on a 21% council tax rise for Birmingham bill payers for the next year. This large rise will be accompanied by some very large cuts to local services, as the council aims to make over £370m in savings over the next two financial years.

Throughout this episode, Cllr Cotton speaks candidly and at great length regarding this financial situation that has gripped Europe's largest local authority, as well as outlining the road to recovery for the city.

The conversation covers everything from Oracle and Equal Pay, to Section 114 notices and the governance and culture issues that have all contributed and coalesced to hamper the cash-strapped council.

The issues that Birmingham have faced are emblematic of a wider problem that faces local government, as Cllr Cotton also provides advice for the sector as he sets his sights firmly on financial and reputational recovery for his city.

Hosted by Cratus Group Executive Chairman Nick Kilby and the Editor of The MJ, Heather Jameson, the ‘Our World is Local’ podcast is a space to learn about the key figures in local government, highlighting the tremendous work they do for the communities they serve. You can listen to the previous episodes ⁠here⁠.

You can listen to the previous episodes ⁠⁠on Spotify here⁠ and wherever else you listen to your podcasts.

Ahead of the DCN Conference this week, Nick Kilby and Heather Jameson sat down to talk about the ongoing problems facing local government. 

The pair were also joined by Cratus' Charlotte Platten who reveals some council polling that is set to take place in the coming weeks, and casts an eye forward to the focus and direction of the District Councils.

Hosted by Cratus Group CEO Nick Kilby and the Editor of The MJ, Heather Jameson, the ‘Our World is Local’ podcast is a space to learn about the key figures in local government, highlighting the tremendous work they do for the communities they serve. You can listen to the previous episodes ⁠here⁠.

Hosted by Cratus Group Executive Chairman Nick Kilby and the Editor of The MJ, Heather Jameson, the ‘Our World is Local’ podcast is a space to learn about the key figures in local government, highlighting the tremendous work they do for the communities they serve. You can listen to the previous episodes ⁠here⁠.

You can listen to the previous episodes ⁠⁠on Spotify here⁠ and wherever else you listen to your podcasts.

Nick Kilby (Cratus Group) and Heather Jameson (The MJ) are back with the first episode of Our World is Local in 2024.

Kicking things off for the new year is Dr Jonathan Carr-West, who is the Chief Executive of the Local Government Information Unit and a leading national expert on local government transformation.

This conversation looks at the state of local government finances amid the rising level of debt facing local authorities nationwide, as recent analysis revealed that UK councils owe a combined £97.8bn to lenders.

Hosted by Cratus Group CEO Nick Kilby and the Editor of The MJ, Heather Jameson, the ‘Our World is Local’ podcast is a space to learn about the key figures in local government, highlighting the tremendous work they do for the communities they serve. You can listen to the previous episodes ⁠here⁠.

Hosted by Cratus Group Executive Chairman Nick Kilby and the Editor of The MJ, Heather Jameson, the ‘Our World is Local’ podcast is a space to learn about the key figures in local government, highlighting the tremendous work they do for the communities they serve. You can listen to the previous episodes ⁠here⁠.

You can listen to the previous episodes ⁠⁠on Spotify here⁠ and wherever else you listen to your podcasts.

In this very special episode of Our World is Local, it's an all Cratus Group and Municipal Journal affair as hosts Nick Kilby and Heather Jameson are joined by two expert special guests in the form of Duncan Flynn (Cratus Group) and Mark Conrad (MJ).

This bumper episode, and penultimate instalment of 2023, follows a whirlwind few weeks in politics and tackles what is likely to be the last government reshuffle before the next General Election. The conversation then moves to reviewing local government's role and performance on the issue of asylum seeking.

Hosted by Cratus Group CEO Nick Kilby and the Editor of The MJ, Heather Jameson, the ‘Our World is Local’ podcast is a space to learn about the key figures in local government, highlighting the tremendous work they do for the communities they serve. You can listen to the previous episodes here.

Hosted by Cratus Group Executive Chairman Nick Kilby and the Editor of The MJ, Heather Jameson, the ‘Our World is Local’ podcast is a space to learn about the key figures in local government, highlighting the tremendous work they do for the communities they serve. You can listen to the previous episodes ⁠here⁠.

You can listen to the previous episodes ⁠⁠on Spotify here⁠ and wherever else you listen to your podcasts.

For this latest episode of Our World is Local, Nick Kilby (Cratus) and Heather Jameson (Municipal Journal) are joined by Councillor Tim Oliver, Leader of Surrey County Council. 

Cllr Oliver has led Surrey County Council since 2018 and back in 2021, became the Chair of the County Councils Network who collectively serve 25 million people and are responsible for £32bn of public spending each year.

In this conversation, Cllr Oliver discusses some the challenges facing the county while delving into the relationship between the lower tiers.

While looking ahead to the future of the local authority, the issue of devolution and the efficiency of single-pot public sector budgets is also looked at. 

Hosted by Cratus CEO Nick Kilby and the Editor of The MJ, Heather Jameson, the ‘Our World is Local’ podcast is a space to learn about the key figures in local government, highlighting the tremendous work they do for the communities they serve. You can listen to the previous episodes here.

Hosted by Cratus Group Executive Chairman Nick Kilby and the Editor of The MJ, Heather Jameson, the ‘Our World is Local’ podcast is a space to learn about the key figures in local government, highlighting the tremendous work they do for the communities they serve. You can listen to the previous episodes ⁠here⁠.

You can listen to the previous episodes ⁠⁠on Spotify here⁠ and wherever else you listen to your podcasts.

This episode is the final part of our on-location special dispatches from the party conferences. While in Liverpool for the Labour Party Conference, Cratus spoke to key decision-makers as the party set out its vision as it prepares for the next General Election.

We spoke to the following members Labour Party councillors to get their thoughts on the conference, including their reactions to Keir Starmer's planning announcement.

• Cllr Anthony Okereke, Leader of Greenwich Council
• Cllr Ross Garrod, Leader of Merton Council
• Cllr Shantanu Rajawat, Leader of Hounslow Council
• Cllr Mohammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council
• Cllr Tom Renhard, Cabinet Member for Housing Delivery and Homes at Bristol City Council

Hosted by Cratus Group Executive Chairman Nick Kilby and the Editor of The MJ, Heather Jameson, the ‘Our World is Local’ podcast is a space to learn about the key figures in local government, highlighting the tremendous work they do for the communities they serve. You can listen to the previous episodes ⁠here⁠.

You can listen to the previous episodes ⁠⁠on Spotify here⁠ and wherever else you listen to your podcasts.

This episode is the second in a series of on-location special dispatches from the party conferences. While in Manchester, Cratus spoke to a number of party members in what could possibly be their last conference before the General Election.

Cratus' Dan Humphreys and Osman Dervish spoke to the following figures in the party during the conference:

• Ben Spencer, MP for Runnymede and Weybridge
• Mims Davies, MP for Mid Sussex
• Stuart Andrew, MP for Pudsey
• Lewis Cocking, Leader of Broxbourne Council and PPC for Broxbourne
• Helen Whately, MP for Faversham and Mid Kent and Minister of State for Social Care
• Tim Loughton, MP for East Worthing and Shoreham

Our attention will now turn to Liverpool for the Labour Party Conference which is kicking off this Sunday, and we will be bringing you even more reactions from the final instalment of this year's party conference season.

Hosted by Cratus Group Executive Chairman Nick Kilby and the Editor of The MJ, Heather Jameson, the ‘Our World is Local’ podcast is a space to learn about the key figures in local government, highlighting the tremendous work they do for the communities they serve. You can listen to the previous episodes ⁠here⁠.

You can listen to the previous episodes ⁠⁠on Spotify here⁠ and wherever else you listen to your podcasts.