The Local Authority Podcast

The Local Authority Podcast goes live! Joining our chair, Thomas Kohut, Principal Consultant at TPXimpact this month is Kersten England, chief executive at City of Bradford Council; Deven Ghelani, director at Policy in Practice; Paul Frainer, partner at TPXimpact and Local Government Chronicle's editor, Sarah Calkin. 

Recorded with a live audience at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, the panel discuss the issue we are all facing: the ever-increasing cost of living crisis. 

Importantly answering, what does the rising cost of living mean for our organisations? What does it mean for the people we serve and what can local government do in response?  Tune in to hear our panel dive deep into the issue, only on The Local Authority Podcast. 

On Monday 5 September the next prime minister of the United Kingdom was announced, followed by the appointment of a new cabinet and set of junior ministers. In the latest edition of The Local Authority podcast LGC, along with our partners TPXimpact, consider what the new administration will mean for local government and key policies affecting the sector.

What should councils expect from the new PM and their administration? Will levelling up and agreeing more devolution deals remain a priority? Will the new secretary of state be a localist? What does it mean for adult social care funding and reform?

Joining Sarah Calkin for this exciting episode is, Cllr Abi Brown, Conservative leader of Stoke-on-Trent council and chair of the LGA improvement and innovation board; Cllr Chris Read, Labour leader of Rotherham MBC; Tony Travers, LSE department of government and director of LSE London and Claire Hazelgrove, community and political engagement director, TPXimpact.

It is widely accepted that the 2014 reforms to the provision of services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities were poorly implemented and insufficiently funded. More than half of councils are significantly overspending on their high needs budgets and yet parents feel it is a battle to get the support their child needs and, worst of all, outcomes for children and young people are still poor. Ministers have recently finished consulting on a green paper setting out reforms intended to address these issues.

Joining Sarah to discuss all this and more is Lucy Nethsingha (Lib Dem) leader of Cambridgeshire County Council and deputy chair on the Children and Young People’s Board at the Local Government Association; Matt Dunkley, past president of ADCS, former director of children’s services for Kent, East Sussex and Norfolk, now an independent consultant and Alex Leslie, consultant at TPXimpact. 

More than a million households are currently on the waiting list for social housing and councils are struggling to build new homes to meet this demand. Meanwhile the expanded role for the Regulator of Social Housing in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy means councils are facing greater oversight of their existing provision. In this edition of The Local Authority podcast LGC, along with our partners TPXimpact, explore what all of this means for the future of council housing and its role in creating sustainable places.

Joining Sarah this episode is Pam Smith, chief executive at Newcastle City Council; Joanne Drew, co-chair of the London Housing Directors' group and housing and regeneration director at Enfield LBC; Jim Bennett, assistant director for policy and communications at RSH and Stuart Mackenzie, head of client experience at TPXimpact. 

This episode of The Local Authority podcast features panellists Peter Stanyon, chief executive at AEA Elections; Darren Hughes, chief executive at Electoral Reform Society and Claire Hazelgrove, community and political engagement director at TPXimpact.

The panel look at all aspects of how elections administered by local government could change, including how can councils encourage more people to vote, the potential for emerging technology and whether other democratic innovations such as citizens assembly and referenda enhance or diminish representative democracy.

The panel also take a deep dive into local elections, including increasing attendance, the need to ensure council chambers are more representative of their local population and whether the electoral system should be changed.

Listen on all podcast platforms. 

Joining Local Government Chronicle editor, Nick Golding this month is: Jill Colbert, Chief Executive at Together For Children and Defence Children's Services; Steve Crocker, President for Association of Directors of Children's Services and David Ayre, Partner, Local Government at TPXimpact. 

On this episode the panel discuss the rising demand and cost for children and young people's services.  How can councils effectively run and set a precedent for giving vulnerable children the best start in life.  Are early intervention systems synergized with other council services?

All this and more - listen to The Local Authority on all podcast platforms now!

In this new episode of The Local Authority, editor of Local Government Chronicle, Nick Golding speaks to the panellists about 'The Squeeze'. 

What can councils do to support their local population during the cost-of-living crisis, including the rise in energy bills to unprecedented levels – even before the invasion of Ukraine.  How councils can work to reduce poverty, both among those in and not in work.  What strategies can they adopt and which sections of the population should they focus on?

Alongside Nick, this episode features Mike Brewer, Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Economics, Resolution Foundation; Helen Barnard, Associate Director, Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Research and Policy Director, Pro Bono Economics and Paul Frainer, Programme Lead - Place, TPXimpact and Director at Institute of Economic Development.

This exciting new episode of The Local Authority podcast explores devolution. Following the publication of the government’s flagship ‘Levelling Up White Paper’, our panel discuss if councils can seize the moment and take the initiative. This requires radical reform, but do councils have the tools to do it?

Joining Nick Golding, editor of Local Government Chronicle to discuss is: Amanda Hopgood, Leader at Durham CC; Tony Travers, Director at LSE London and Mike Dearing, Managing Director International at TPXimpact.

The panel discuss the decisions made at a devolved level – can we be optimistic about the decentralisation of decision making? If funding underpins all decisions, what does a sensible devolved council system look like? Is an elected mayor leader model on the cards at Durham CC?

All this and more on this month’s episode of The Local Authority.

Ring in the new year with a brand-new episode of the Local Authority Podcast. 

Joining Nick Golding, editor of Local Government Chronicle this month is:  Sally Warren, Director of Policy, The King’s Fund; Rob Walsh, Chief Executive, North East Lincolnshire Council, and NHS North East Lincolnshire CCG; and David Ayre, Partner - Local Government, TPXimpact.

Health and social care integration has been a policy hot-potato for years now and with the Government’s recent plans unveiled, this latest episode asks how services users can be better served. 

The panel discuss in detail the current state of health and social care nationwide, the plans for increasing national insurance contributions, optimistic whitepapers on the horizon, the funding gap challenge and its waterfall effect on care. 

The panel also discuss mechanisms for embedding personalisation of care for service users – what solutions could form and ultimately deliver on the end product?

With a powerful opportunity ahead of us to innovate and drive efficiencies, are the panel optimistic for the future of integration within Health and Social care? 

Tune in to the Local Authority Podcast to find out.

Joining LGC editor Nick Golding this month is; David Simmonds, Conservative MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner; Jessica Studdert, deputy chief executive, New Local; and Claire Hazelgrove, organising and political engagement director at FutureGov becoming TPXimpact.

The panel discuss the ways in which Michael Gove can drive change within local government in his new role as levelling up secretary. Can councils expect their big-beast new secretary of state to finally bring cohesion to Whitehall’s dealings with the sector? Will Mr Gove's reputation of being a disruptor set a precedent for how he treats councils? And will he embark on a radical programme of community empowerment?

All this and more - listen to The Local Authority on all good podcast platforms, for free.