Public Sector Executive Podcast

On this week’s episode, Executive Member for Children and Families and Leeds City Council, Cllr Fiona Venner, joined host Emily Rodgers on Public Sector Voices to discuss how families in Leeds are being supported through the crisis.

As more school children are sent back to school, a lot of anxiety is apparent among children and families, uncertainty and mixed messaging have made it difficult for parents to know if they are making the right decision. 

Cllr Venner tells us about the support available in Leeds and what schools in the area are doing to support their students back into education.

For those families who have found themselves at the centre of more arguments over the past few months as a result of Covid-19 pressure, this podcast aims to provide you with the support and advice to help you through it, as Cllr Venner reminds us the importance of not turning your home “into a warzone” when home schooling. 

With figures showing 25% of children that were in need of mental health support didn’t have access to support during the crisis, it begs the question ‘what is the extent of the damage from this virus?’

Read more at Public Sector Executive 

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On this week’s episode, Leader of Newcastle City Council, Cllr Nick Forbes CBE joined host Emily Rodgers to highlight his ambitions for the future of his city. 

Nick has been instrumental in representing local government and their economies through a decade of austerity and has worked to secure devolution packages City Deals through the combined authority. 

The first thing noted by the leader is that the last ten years have been ‘the most extraordinary period in local government’ but that doesn’t stop him referring to his 11 years as leader as a privilege. 

Newcastle has implemented many examples of where they have pivoted and repurposed their resources to support the city through this crisis, with amazing results.

Cllr Forbes’ ambitious plan for the future is a green one, with talks of growing your own food and not letting cars back into the city centre after this crisis, Nick is ready to support a whole generation of jobs created from the carbon neutral journey. 

A champion for local government, devolution and building a greater society, Cllr Forbes shares his council’s best practice and leaves you feeling inspired, certain that the coronavirus crisis poses opportunity for positive change.  

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On this week’s episode, Lord Robert Kerslake joined host Emily Rodgers to discuss the recent UK2070 Commission on levelling up UK towns and cities. He has been listed as one of the most influential people in the public sector thanks to his services to Local Government that span from Council Chief Executive to President of the Local Government Association and member of the House of Lords.

One of the key points made by Bob was that the UK is one of the most unequal countries in the developed world, and more devolved powers are needed in places in localities to help level parts of the UK outside the Southeast. 

With the coronavirus crisis putting even more financial pressure on local authorities, now is the time for the Government to ‘go big or go home’ and support councils more than ever to get out of the current crisis. 

Where does the coronavirus leave HS2? Lord Kerslake argued for a connectivity revolution but what will the future of the transport network look like? 

Listen to this week’s Public Sector Voices podcast ‘A gradual erosion of local autonomy’ and find out what is needed to level up the UK after coronavirus and beyond. 

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East Hampshire District Councillor Paula Langley joined Emily Rodgers on Public Sector Voices this week to give us insight into the role of a Councillor at a very local level, and how the community is pulling through the crisis.

Paula represents the most deprived ward in East Hampshire, and was inspired to enter local politics after realising what is was lacking – Deeds not words.

Alton Aid is a volunteer service that has propped up the local area and protected its most vulnerable residents with food deliveries, tech support and a friend to turn to, and Paula is right at the heart of that service. 

With discussions on food banks, education, libraries and more, Paula’s love for her ward shines through the discussion and leaves you feeling inspired by her rapid response, at a time when rapid response has been critical. 

Find out what local authorities are missing, and why Paula thinks that despite being ‘locked inside our houses’, we’ve never been so connected, on this episode of Public Sector Voices.

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Director of Core cities UK Chris Murray joined Emily Rodgers on Public Sector Voices this week to discuss how the 11 key cities, that sit at the centre of wider economic areas, could prosper as lockdown restrictions are lifted.

Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield make up the Core Cities group and work to make each region a more economically and socially rich place.

Chris is passionate about the need for locally devolved powers from Central Government, and the importance having local policy can have on the economy now and in the future. 

With emphasis on skills, the labour market and untapped potential, this discussion brings about hope for UK productivity levels, which if all regions performed at the national average, would see £70bn a year put into the economy and £100bn a year if they matched performance levels of their counter parts in Europe or North America. 

Find out how we can re-imagine UK cities post-pandemic and bring about positive change as restrictions ease to safeguard local economies to weather this storm and any future storms to come. 

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Sacha Lord, Night-time Economy Advisor for Greater Manchester and Mayor Andy Burnham joined host Emily Rodgers on Public Sector Voices this week to discuss the region’s recovery from the coronavirus crisis, underpinned by its rich music heritage.

Sacha brought events like Warehouse Project and Parklife to the region and in the absence of traditional events, while we try and slow the spread of coronavirus, he is live streaming to the masses and raising money for Greater Manchester.

Manchester has always been famous for its nightlife, something which will be instrumental in the region’s economic bounce back and Sacha is the man to lead the fight. His latest efforts reaching nine million viewers and raising £260,000 and counting for the hospitality sector.

He uses Altrincham as an example of how the food and drink economy can save the local area, a man who is absolutely confident that we will come back stronger.

Sacha’s positive disposition left us extremely hopeful for the future with the words ‘rebuild, rebuild, rebuild’ ringing in our ears.

Find out what the region has to look forward to in the next five years and how the greatest challenges will be tackled on this week’s episode of Public Sector Voices. 

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Programme Director at the Institute for Government, Joe Owen, joined host Emily Rodgers on Public Sector Voices to discuss the recent report he co-authored called Lifting the Lockdown: How to approach a coronavirus exit strategy.

Joe is currently leading the Institute’s research on Whitehall’s preparations for exiting the European Union, a historical event that has been hugely complicated by the pandemic we’re facing. 

The decisions over the next few weeks regarding how to lift the current lockdown restrictions will be critical for Government and the whole of the UK, Emily and Joe take a look at the different options available and the effect they could have.

Balancing public health with the economy is an unprecedented challenge, and according to Joe, one of the challenges for anyone in that position is reorienting themselves to realise that they are now The Coronavirus Prime Minister, a legacy that he wasn’t expected when he won his big majority in December.

'Transparency is key' is the message of the day and facing up to the huge challenge ahead – Joe is an expert in his field and presents a fascinating insight from the people whose mission is to make Government more effective.  

Listen to this week’s Public Sector Voices podcast ‘Lifting the lockdown’ and find out how Joe would tackle it. 

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LIVE FROM EVONORTH 

Councillor Andrew Western is the Leader of Trafford Council and Greater Manchester Green City Region Lead and delivered a speech at the recent EvoNorth event about GM’s plans for a green city region.

Cllr Western delves deep into the ‘extremely challenges process’ of achieving a green city region in Greater Manchester but instills the importance of doing so.

“The clean air crisis in GM is currently contributing to 1,200 deaths in the city region in each year across all ages.”

According to Cllr Western, Greater Manchester’s approach is the most ambitious in terms of scale and size as the proposal currently stands at introducing a clean air zone across the whole of Greater Manchester. 

“We stand ready to deliver a clean air zone and are more than willing to do so but obviously it brings challenges, particularly around the public transport fleet but also for businesses as well.”

When discussing the notion of fining non-compliant vehicles, he said: “I don’t want to see people paying the penalty, for me that’s the worst option available it’s about incentivising people to change their vehicle.”

This bonus episode highlights the need for a sustainable clean air plan to support the ‘strong and vibrant local economy’ in Greater Manchester.

“We would not drink dirty water so why on earth do we accept breathing dirty air”

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Our tenth PSE Podcast takes us on the go to Leeds Civil Hall where we speak with Leeds City Council Leader Judith Blake.

A real whistle-stop tour of the work being done in the North and specifically Leeds. Council Leader Judith Blake joins hosts Emily Rodgers and Matt Roberts for the tenth PSE podcast.

Recorded in Leeds Civic Hall, this podcast is a perfect example of a woman truly fighting for her city. Having inherited an inadequate OFSTED rating and turned it into an outstanding across the board, Councillor Blake believes the key to real change is working collaboratively – but it can’t be done without real fiscal devolution from Government.

Also Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People’s Board and Chair of the Core Cities Group, Cllr Blake is deeply passionate about making a positive change to communities in the North. 

With specific focuses on transport and early intervention services, what needs to be done is keenly apparent, but in the councillor’s words ‘We’ve been burnt before’.

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Our first podcast episode with two guests took us on the road to the TfGM offices where we spoke to two representatives from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Chief Executive Eamonn Boylan and Andrew Lightfoot, Strategic Director – Public Service Reform. 

With hosts Ailsa Cowen and Matt Roberts, the discussion flowed from growth and equality to why healthy life expectancy between people in Manchester’s most deprived areas are cause for concern. 

 Eamonn and Andrew spoke passionately about forming a skilled workforce, not just in young people, but also people who want a career change and the importance of apprenticeships. 

What is being done to make Manchester carbon neutral? And how long will it take? Andrew and Eamonn are here to tell why 2050 is effectively too late. 

The BBC and ITV to GCHQ investing in new tech startups. Eamonn and Andrew both divulge into the catalysts that caused relocations of big businesses to Manchester. 

Both guests explained their plans for Manchester avidly and assured that everyone understands their mission. 

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