Our World Is Local

In this episode, Heather Jameson and Nick Kilby are joined by Graham Farrant, former Chief Executive of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council, to explore the realities of delivering one of the UK's largest local government reorganisations.  Drawing on his experience leading the creation of BCP Council, Graham shares practical lessons on what it really takes to bring multiple autho...

As Reform sweeps county halls, the Greens surge across London and Labour faces tough questions in its traditional heartlands, this special Local Elections edition of Our World Is Local dives deep into one of the most dramatic local election nights in recent memory. Hosts Nick and Heather are joined by Cratus Group’s Charlotte Platten and Harriet Shone to unpack the big winners, the bruising losses...

In this episode, hosts Nick Kilby and Heather Jameson are joined by J onathan Stephenson, Chief Executive of Brentwood and Rochford Councils, for a candid conversation on the challenges shaping local government today, from election uncertainty and devolution delays to capacity pressures and declining trust in the system. Alongside the politics and policy, the episode shines a light on something mo...

In this episode of Our World is Local , Nick Kilby and Heather Jameson are joined by Kath O’Dwyer, Chair of Solace and former Chief Executive of St Helens, for a wide-ranging and candid discussion about leadership, culture and the future of local government. Recorded back in November 2025, Kath draws on more than four decades in the sector, reflects on what it really means to be a modern chief exe...

Nick and Heather are back in this latest episode of Our World is Local. For this special episode, they sit down with the formidable Theresa Grant OBE , whose 47-year career in local government has seen her lead councils through some of the most challenging reorganisations in recent memory. Theresa shares unflinching insights on local government reform, leadership, and the 21 new reorganisation are...

In this episode of Our World is Local , we’re joined by Rachel McKoy, Director of Law and Governance (and Monitoring Officer) at the London Borough of Newham. Rachel lifts the lid on one of local government’s most vital but often least understood roles — from upholding the constitution and navigating political pressures, to protecting democratic integrity in a world of social media pile-ons and an...

In this episode of Our World is Local , Heather Jameson is joined by guest co-host Dan Humphreys, Cratus Group, for a deep dive into the hot topic dominating local government reorganisation. Together with special guest Simon Kaye, Policy Director at the think tank Reform, they explore the competing visions for future council structures, the tug-of-war between county and district authorities, and t...

In this episode of Our World is Local , hosts Heather Jameson and Nick Kilby, sit down with Paul Johnson, Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, to unpick the economic narrative emerging from central government — and ask the big question: is there a real plan for growth? What follows is a candid, wide-ranging conversation that explores the intersection of national economic policy and local...

In this episode of Our World is Local , we are joined by Dr Martin Reeves, Chief Executive of Oxfordshire County Council, to explore the complexities of local government reorganisation and the creation of combined authorities.  Drawing from his experience in Bedfordshire, the West Midlands, and now Oxfordshire, Martin shares insights on the challenges of restructuring, the role of leadership, and...

This week's episode features special guest Mark Greenberg, a renowned lawyer with a rich history in local government, who shares his unique journey from council leader to legal troubleshooter. Together, they discuss critical issues like the upcoming finance settlement, the evolving role of local authority leaders, and the delicate dance of navigating governance challenges. Learn how empathy,...

In this episode, we sit down with Adele Wylie, the dynamic Chief Executive of North Northamptonshire Council, to discuss her journey, challenges, and ambitions in local government. Marking a year in her leadership role, Adele reflects on the transition from monitoring officer to Chief Executive and shares her experiences navigating the complexities of leading a newly reorganized local authority. A...

In this month’s episode of Our World is Local , hosts Nick Kilby and Heather Jameson dive into one of the most significant periods for local and national politics in recent memory. With fresh faces in local government, major announcements from the LGA conference, and a looming white paper on devolution and reorganisation, there's a lot to unpack! Tune in to hear their insights on what the fut...

In this episode, we welcome Matt Prosser, Chief Executive of Dorset Council and President of Solace, the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers.  Matt shares insights from his six years leading Dorset Council, discussing the challenges and successes of creating a unitary authority, balancing financial pressures, and maintaining essential services. We also delve into local...

In this week's episode, hosts NIck Kilby and Heather Jameson are joined by Professor John Denham, former Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. The trio discuss the priorities for an incoming government, focusing on the challenges faced by local authorities, including financial pressures and the need for a clear vision for local government in the future. Professor Denham sha...

In this episode of Our World is Local, hosts Nick Kilby and Heather Jameson are joined by Chief Executive of Knowsley Council, Mike Harden. Back in June, Knowsley Council took home the prestigious 'Local Authority of the Year' award at the annual Municipal Journal Awards, and in this conversation Mike talks about Knowsley's success story, and his journey leading up to this point. Mi...

In this latest episode of 'Our World is Local', hosts Nick Kilby and Heather Jameson are joined by Sir Bob Neill, just a few weeks after the dissolution of parliament which brought an end to his 18-year stint as MP for Bromley and Chislehurst. During this conversation, Sir Bob details his political journey which began 50 years ago when he first won election as a councillor in the London...

With just under two weeks to go until the 2024 General Election, hosts Nick Kilby and Heather Jameson sat down for an Our World is Local election special episode, and were joined by Cratus Group's Director of London Planning, James Goldstone.  James worked for the Labour Party as a London campaigns organiser, managing three General Elections and two Local Election campaigns across four London...

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...

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 Du...

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 ab...

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...

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...

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 leve...

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 gov...

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...