The Local Authority Podcast

This summer has seen record heatwaves, pushing climate change back onto the agenda, and local authorities are at the forefront of efforts to ensure services, residents and places are resilient. This episode of the Local Authority examines the role of councils in climate adaptation. Deputy editor Martin George is joined by Sandra Bogelein, lead analyst – people and net zero at the Climate Change Co...

Andy Burnham’s government has set out radical plans to change how England is governed, with greater powers for elected mayors and strategic authorities, an emphasis on place-based working, and a slimmed down civil service as powers are devolved. This episode of the Local Authority examines the implications of the seven-page document Rewiring the State for devolution in England, the role of local a...

Councils are increasingly in the eye of the storm when online misinformation and disinformation spreads through their communities. Sometimes the council finds itself at the centre of a social media storm; at others, online disinformation can threaten community cohesion. To explore how to spot emerging concerns, get ahead of the narrative and act in the middle of a storm, acting editor Martin Georg...

Last month’s local elections brought a wider spectrum of politicians than ever into local power. As the dust settles and new administrations take office, this episode of the Local Authority, recorded before a live audience at New Local’s Stronger Things conference, examines what comes next for public services. Joining acting LGC editor Martin George are John Denham, former communities secretary an...

With around half of councils having declared the results of their elections, the LGC team analyses the main themes that have developed so far. Acting editor Martin George is joined by head of news Kirsty Weakley, chief reporter Caitlin Webb and finance and devolution reporter Elliot Topham. [Published 16:00 on Friday 08 May 2026 - results correct at time of recording]

With more than 5,000 seats up for grabs across English councils in May, this episode of The Local Authority examines what the elections could mean for the major parties, the rise of Reform and the Greens, and what the results might tell us about the state of British democracy. LGC news editor Kirsty Weakley is joined by elections expert Colin Rallings and Polly Curtis, chief executive of cross-par...

Metro mayors are the poster boys for devolution, but councils have a vital but often unappreciated role in combined authorities – soon to be renamed strategic authorities. With the government planning to ‘complete the map’ of devolution in England and reform how strategic authorities operate, this episode of the Local Authority podcast examines the relationship between strategic authorities and th...

Millions of people rely on social care every day, but it has long been a service in crisis with soaring demand, workforce shortages and inadequate funding, putting ever greater pressure on council finances. Against this backdrop, the Labour government was elected on a promise to set up a National Care Service. In this episode, acting editor Martin George is joined by former care minister Paul Burs...

There has been a growing focus on neighbourhood working in local government for several years and now everybody seems to be talking about neighbourhoods. Last year the prime minister announced a £5bn investment in neighbourhoods, the NHS is rolling out neighbourhood health partnerships and all councils are going to be required to introduce neighbourhood governance arrangements. In this episode of...

More than 165,000 children are currently estimated to be living in temporary accommodation as more and more families find themselves homeless. This often means living in unsuitable accommodation or moving away from friends and family for periods that most would not consider temporary. Councils are struggling to keep up with demand and the crisis is putting severe pressure on their budgets. In this...

In this special episode of The Local Authority, LGC’s editorial team review the biggest stories of the year and look ahead to what might be dominating local government headlines in 2026. Following a huge year for the sector, LGC editor Sarah Calkin, deputy editor Martin George, head of content Kirsty Weakley and chief reporter Caitlin Webb discuss topics including the rise of Reform, Send and what...

In this episode of The Local Authority podcast, LGC’s head of content Kirsty Weakley is joined by Alan Clark (Barnet LBC), Kevin Fox (Capita) and Helen Barnard (Trussell Trust) to explore how councils can approach aged debt collection in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis. With billions owed in council tax and business rates, collection is critical to funding public services, while the reality t...

Almost a fifth of pupils are now classed as having special educational needs but under the current system parents feel they have to fight to get support for their child. Meanwhile councils are being pushed to the brink of bankruptcy by the costs of provision. With the government promising to set out reforms in a schools white paper this autumn, this episode of The Local Authority explores what nee...

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 Councillo...

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...

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,...

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 Geo...

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 epis...

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 expl...

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...

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 epis...

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 Marti...

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...

BONUS: This episode is from the LGC Investment Series Podcast which brings you exclusive content from our LGPS focused event series. In this episode, deputy editor of Local Government Chronicle Martin George is joined by is Phil Triggs, Tri-Borough Director of Treasury and Pensions at Westminster City Council, and Jo Donnelly, Secretary to the Scheme Advisory Board. The group discuss what the land...

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...