The role of councillors has never been more important, with local government reorganisation set to reduce their number while ministers aim to enhance their role in their communities. But there are concerns that council chambers do not reflect local populations, potential candidates are being put off from standing, and good councillors are not standing for re-election. As LGC launches its Councillors for the 21st Century campaign, Andrew Ferrier, chief executive of Test Valley BC, Catherine Mangan, professor of public management and leadership at the Institute of Local Government Studies at the University of Birmingham, and Ryan Jude, a cabinet member at Westminster City Council, discuss the barriers councillors face, and how to overcome them. This episode was recorded live at Stronger Things 2025.

This episode is sponsored by Downing. Downing is a responsible investment manager with nearly a billion pounds of assets under management in renewable energy and infrastructure. This episode was recorded live at the LGC Investment Seminar which was held between 27-28 March 2025 in Carden Park, Cheshire. Joining Martin George, deputy editor of Local Government Chronicle, are: Tom Williams, head of energy and infrastructure at Downing Laura Colliss, pension fund manager at North East Scotland Pension Fund Together they discuss the investment opportunities for the Local Government Pension Scheme to invest in the energy transition ahead of key milestones in 2030 and 2050, the role of Great British Energy and how the LGPS can work with it, and how LGPS funds can use these opportunities to achieve a local impact in their area. Find out more about the event at investmentseminar.lgcplus.com/ Read LGC's investment content at lgcplus.com/investment

Tackling climate change is a key priority for councils across the country, and energy policy is an indispensable part of this work. In this special episode LGC, in association with Capita, is examining how councils can make community energy a reality, and the role of local area energy planning in achieving their goals. LGC deputy editor Martin George is joined by Wayne Bexton, director of economy, environment and assets at Nottinghamshire CC, Fiona Brazill, head of proposition for sustainability and net zero at Capita Public Service, and Debbie Caldwell, climate commissioner at Belfast City Council. LGC Net Zero 2025 is taking place in Manchester on 18 June. View the programme and register for your complimentary place here (subject to approval).

The English devolution white paper outlines ambitions to join up public services, hand mayors more influence over arms length bodies and give them a bigger role in other public services. What does this mean for how public services will run in the future, will the proposals achieve what the government wants them to, and what is needed to make them work? In this episode, LGC deputy editor Martin George is joined by Pam Smith, chief executive of Newcastle City Council and Jessica Studdert, chief executive of New Local.

The English devolution white paper, published in December, commits to “a permanent shift of power away from Whitehall” and a rewiring of national government to work in partnership with mayors and council leaders. Plans include the creation of more mayors and devolution across the country, with more powers for existing mayors, including over how they spending existing devolved budgets. This is episode two if three exploring all aspects of the white paper and is focused on Devolution In this episode LGC editor Sarah Calkin is joined by: Sean Anstee, director of operations, Devon and Torbay CCA Sarah Longlands, Chief executive, Centre for Local Economic Strategies

The English devolution white paper, published in December, commits to “a permanent shift of power away from Whitehall” and a rewiring of national government to work in partnership with mayors and council leaders. But it also heralded the end of two tier local government by ordering counties and districts to reorganise into unitary councils. Over three episodes of The Local Authority, LGC will explore all major aspects of the government’s plans, beginning with reorganisation. In this episode, LGC editor Sarah Calkin is joined by: Kevin Bentley, Conservative group lead at the LGA and leader of Essex CC Richard Flinton, chief executive of North Yorkshire Council Bridget Smith, Lib Dem leader of South Cambridgeshire DC  

In a world of squeezed budgets and increasing demand, improving outcomes while saving money has become the holy grail for local government. In this special episode LGC, in association with IMPOWER, is delving deep into one place’s quest to transform health and social care services to do just that. Manchester’s Better Outcomes, Better Lives programme brought health and social care services together at neighbourhood level to improve support for residents in need of social care and avoid more than £39m in costs. LGC editor Sarah Calkin is joined by Bernie Enright, Manchester City Council’s executive director for adult social services, Katy Calvin-Thomas, chief executive of the Manchester and Trafford local care organisations and Oliver Barnes, delivery director at IMPOWER to discuss how they did it. Read more: Bernadette Enright: Delivering ‘good savings’ in adult social care

One of the government’s first acts on coming to power in July was to launch a consultation on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework in a bid to deliver its ambition of 370,000 homes a year over the course of this parliament.   Proposed changes include a new methodology for housing targets, a move towards more strategic planning and a revised definition of the green belt.   In this episode of The Local Authority we explore whether the proposals will have the desired effect – and what else needs to change to deliver the homes the country needs.   LGC editor Sarah Calkin is joined by: Ann Carruthers, president of the Association of directors of environment, planning and transport and  director of environment and transport for Leicestershire CC Richard Clewer, leader of Wiltshire Council and a member of the LGA’s local infrastructure and net zero board Hugh Ellis, director of policy at the town and country planning association

This episode is sponsored by Brightwood. Brightwood Capital is a $6 billion private credit firm that specialises in providing customised senior debt capital to sponsored and non-sponsored U.S. businesses in five core industries within the middle market.  This episode was recorded live at the LGC Investment and Pensions Summit which was held between 11-13 September 2024 in Birmingham. Joining Martin George, deputy editor of Local Government Chronicle, are: Sengal Selassie, CEO and founder of Brightwood Capital Advisors Mike O'Donnell, former CEO of London CIV Jo Kempton, head of Lincolnshire Pension Fund Together they discuss the implications of the new UK Government, an upcoming U.S presidential election, and the potential for pension fund/pool mergers, structural change, UK-focused investment, and more. Find out more about the event at investmentsummit.lgcplus.com Read LGC's investment content at lgcplus.com/investment

Continually looking for savings and efficiencies in the quest to balance the books has become a way of life for local authorities. But striking the balance between achieving savings in the short term without storing up more problems for the future is challenging and can require political and managerial bravery. In this episode of The Local Authority LGC, in association with Impower, explores what good savings look like and how councils can deliver more of them. LGC editor Sarah Calkin is joined by: Martin Reeves, chief executive, Oxfordshire CC Mark Smith, director of public service reform, Gateshead MBC Ebony Hughes, chief operating officer, Impower

Recorded live at the LGC Pension Fund Symposium, LGPS experts discuss what the election might mean for the scheme

Last week Labour won the general election and a new government is in place. To discuss what this might mean for local government, including devolution, council funding and planning reform, LGC editor Sarah Calkin is joined by an expert panel: Charlotte Alldritt, founder and former chief executive of the Centre for Progressive Policy and political advisor to Lord Sainsbury Jessica Studdert, interim chief executive of New Local Tony Travers, associate dean of the School of Public Policy at the London School of Economics

Home to school transport has become an increasing pressure on council budgets as a combination of increases in demand from pupils with special educational needs and a lack of supply push up  costs. In this episode of The Local Authority, LGC in association with Qroutes, would like to explore how councils can reduce costs whilst ensuring children receive the education they need. What is the role of schools? How can parental expectations be managed? Should services be means tested? LGC editor Sarah Calkin is joined by: Roger Gough, leader of Kent CC and children’s services spokesperson for the County Councils Network Rachael Shimmin, chief executive of Buckinghamshire Council Liz Davidson, chief marketing officer for Qroutes Support for this episode comes from QRoutes. QRoutes creates routing optimisation software that helps local authorities address their special educational needs  transport challenges. Their technology helps school transport planners deliver tailored and empathetic services that cut carbon and cost less. Find out more at: qroutes.co.uk

It's 3pm on 03 May, and the local election count is on. In the LGC news room for this special Local Authority episode, LGC deputy editor Martin George is joined by editor Sarah Calkin and reporter Caitlin Webb to talk all things results: what do we know so far, what trends are at play and what local issues have been influencing results? Which are the counts particularly worth focusing on as we continue into the weekend, and have there been any surprises so far? Find out more about sponsoring an episode of The Local Authority by downloading a copy of the media pack here, or emailing Andrew.Leggatt@emap.com. 

The local elections are just around the corner, with everyone in England and Wales able to vote in either council, metro mayor or police and crime commissioner elections, or a combination of the three. With the Conservatives behind in national polling, the increasing importance of independent candidates, and some bellwether mayoral and council contests taking place on 2 May, there is a lot to talk about. In this special Local Authority episode, LGC deputy editor Martin George is joined by editor Sarah Calkin and head of news Kirsty Weakley to discuss all this and more. The trio are joined by elections expert Colin Rallings who explains why he thinks the Tories could lose up to 500 seats, and by Andrew Carter, chief executive of Centre for Cities, to talk about its recent polling about the metro mayors. Find out more about sponsoring an episode of The Local Authority by downloading a copy of the media pack here, or emailing Andrew.Leggatt@emap.com. 

Councils are increasingly recognising the value of involving communities in the design of services meanwhile financial pressures have seen the delivery of services such as libraries outsourced to community groups. And though new technology has provided more ways for councils to engage with their residents and businesses, misinformation through social media platforms can often undermine trust.  In this episode of The Local Authority we explore what the relationship between councils and their communities should look like and how councils can build trust and democratic engagement.   LGC editor Sarah Calkin is joined by:  Elizabeth Campbell (Con), leader of Kensington & Chelsea RBC   Tracey Lee, chief executive, Plymouth City Council  Adam Lent, chief executive, New Local Find out more about sponsoring an episode of The Local Authority here: https://lgcplus.com/podcast

Children’s services are frequently cited as the biggest current pressure on council budgets, with costs having spiralled in recent years. But despite huge increases in spending there is concern children are often not getting the care and support they need, with shortages of placements meaning young people can often find themselves placed many miles away from the people and places they know. Furthermore placements are increasingly being provided in facilities run by private equity backed firms, sparking concerns of excessive profit making. In this episode of The Local Authority, the podcast from Local Government Chronicle, we explore what has gone wrong and what needs to happen to fix a broken system. LGC editor Sarah Calkin is joined by: Louise Gittins (Lab), chair of the LGA children and young people’s board and leader of Cheshire West & Chester Council Josh MacAlister, chair of the 2022 Independent Review of Children’s Social Care and now executive chair of Foundations, the what works centre for children and families Andy Smith, vice president of Association of Directors of Children’s Services and strategic director for children’s and adults’ social services at Derby City Council

The UK is one of the most centralised countries in the world and local authorities enjoy few revenue raising powers when compared with their counterparts in other developed nations. In recent years calls have been growing for local authorities to be given the power to set new taxes or take control of elements of the existing tax base. However, central government has so far resisted these calls. In this episode of The Local Authority, the podcast from Local Government Chronicle, we want to explore the arguments for fiscal devolution, what that could look like in practice and why it is being met with resistance. Joining Sarah Calkin this month is Jamie Driscoll, metro mayor of the North of Tyne Combined Authority; Jessica Studdert, deputy chief executive of New Local and Ross Mudie, research analyst at The Centre for Progressive Policy.  Available on all streaming services now!

Spiralling inflation has pushed up the cost of borrowing while the high-profile failure of some councils that took on large amounts of debt has increased scrutiny of council investments. In this episode of The Local Authority, the podcast from Local Government Chronicle, we want to explore how councils are approaching funding of regeneration in this environment and whether attitudes to commercialisation in local government have changed. Joining Sarah Calkin this month is Sarah Norman, chief executive at Barnsley MBC; Rob Whiteman, chief executive at CIPFA and Tracy Bingham, strategic director (corporate resources) at South Derbyshire DC.  The episode is available for streaming on all podcast platforms now.

For the past decade, the government’s preferred model of devolution has been to combined authorities with directly elected mayors. However, more than five years on from the election of the first metro mayors, there is ongoing resistance from councils to adopting this model. In this episode of The Local Authority, a podcast from Local Government Chronicle, we explore what is behind this resistance and how the model is working in those places where it already exists. Joining LGC editor Sarah Calkin this month is Professor Carolyn Wilkins, fellow at Birmingham Leadership Institute and former chief executive of Oldham MBC; Cllr Anna Smith (Lab), former leader of Cambridge City Council and deputy mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority and Paul Swinney, director of policy and research at Centre for Cities. The episode is available for streaming on all platforms now.