Our World Is Local

This episode is the final part of our on-location special dispatches from the party conferences. While in Liverpool for the Labour Party Conference, Cratus spoke to key decision-makers as the party set out its vision as it prepares for the next General Election. We spoke to the following members Labour Party councillors to get their thoughts on the conference, including their reactions to Keir Sta...

This episode is the second in a series of on-location special dispatches from the party conferences. While in Manchester, Cratus spoke to a number of party members in what could possibly be their last conference before the General Election. Cratus' Dan Humphreys and Osman Dervish spoke to the following figures in the party during the conference: Ben Spencer, MP for Runnymede and Weybridge Mim...

This episode is the first in a series of on-location special dispatches from the party conferences. In Bournemouth this weekend (22/09-26/09) Cratus spoke to key decision-makers as the Liberal Democrats determined some key policies in what could possibly be their last conference before the General Election. Account Manager Charlie Murphy spoke to the following figures in the party during this epis...

For this episode of 'Our World is Local', Nick Kilby (Cratus) and Heather Jameson (The MJ) are joined by not one, but two special guests. Chief Executive of Tewkesbury Borough Council, Alistair Cunningham OBE and Cratus' very own Head of Advisory, Charlotte Platten, join Nick and Heather as we look at the relationship between council officers and their members, from two very differe...

For this latest episode of 'Our World is Local', Nick Kilby ( Cratus ) and Heather Jameson ( The Municipal Journal ) are joined by the Chief Executive of the award-winning Barnsley Council, Sarah Norman. Barnsley Council made history and became the first authority to win two of the most prestigious awards in local government in the same year; the Local Government Chronicle's Council...

It's the Local Government Association (LGA) Conference week and the whole sector convenes in Bournemouth for the biggest event on the local government calendar. Last week, Nick and Heather were joined on the podcast by the new Chair of the LGA and Leader of Telford and Wrekin Council, Councillor Shaun Davies.    In this special episode of Our World is Local, Cllr Davies sets out what he would...

In this latest episode of Our World Is Local, Nick and Heather take a look at the state of play in local government following from last month's Local Elections, discussing everything from coalitions to tactical voting. The pair are also joined by the newly elected Leader of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, Councillor Vikki Slade, for a conversation about the positive opportunities...

For this special episode, Nick Kilby and Heather Jameson were joined by two guests ahead of the 2023 Local Elections next week. Firstly, the pair spoke to Trevor Holden of Broadland District and South Norfolk Councils - whose appearance on YouTube as 'T-Dawg', rapping to raise awareness of the new voter ID requirements. Trevor talks about the effectiveness of this campaign and his experi...

In this episode, Nick and Heather are joined by the Chief Executive of Staffordshire County Council, John Henderson CB. Ahead of his departure from the role later this year, John provides an in-depth reflection on his remarkable transition from the military into local government, and the transferable nature of his leadership skills. Hosted by Cratus Group Executive Chairman Nick Kilby and the Edit...

Cllr Abi Brown, the Leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, talks to Nick and Heather about the challenges of leading one of our major cities, the future of Stoke-on-Trent and the importance of culture in creating a sense of place.  Hosted by Cratus Group Executive Chairman Nick Kilby and the Editor of The MJ, Heather Jameson, the ‘Our World is Local’ podcast is a space to learn about the key figur...

This episode touches on different subjects that are trending in the world of local government, including Levelling Up London, transportation,  the local government's role in the health sector and the upcoming election. We are joined by Julian Bell, a Cratus Associate and former council Leader of the London Borough of Ealing. Hosted by Cratus Group Executive Chairman Nick Kilby and the Editor...

Heather is joined by Local Government Association chairman Cllr James Jamieson to talk about how councils fared in Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement. Has the new Chancellor done enough to keep councils afloat? Tune in to find out...... Hosted by Cratus Group Executive Chairman Nick Kilby and the Editor of The MJ, Heather Jameson, the ‘Our World is Local’ podcast is a space to learn about the key figu...

Nick and Heather are joined by Cllr Shaun Davies, Leader - Telford and Wrekin Council, who shares the Labour perspective of the Local Government in the future and Rob Whiteman, Chief Executive CIPFA, who sheds more light on Officers and Member Relationships. Hosted by Cratus Group Executive Chairman Nick Kilby and the Editor of The MJ, Heather Jameson, the ‘Our World is Local’ podcast is a space t...

This is the first episode of our monthly series  'Our World is Local' hosted by  Nick Kilby, CEO, Cratus and  Heather Jameson, Editor of The MJ. n this episode, we discuss The King, how Councils supported the smooth running of the Queen's funeral, Simon Clarke the new Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and the wider Liz Truss cabinet.  We are joined by Dun...

Cratus Executive Director (Advisory, Public Affairs and PR) Sean Anstee was pleased to be joined by Chris Naylor, Interim Chief Executive of Birmingham City Council, Ian MacLeod, Director for Inclusion Growth at Birmingham City Council, Nathan Cornish, Director at Urban Splash, and Gerald Sweeny, Managing Director of CarneySweeney, to discuss all things Birmingham. Chris kicked off the discussion...

The conundrum of how to keep our high streets alive has been challenging central and local government for years. And then coronavirus swept through the country, hollowing out our towns and cities and transforming, at break-neck speed, the way we live, work, and socialise. Hosted by Cratus Group Executive Chairman Nick Kilby and the Editor of The MJ, Heather Jameson, the ‘Our World is Local’ podcas...

In this episode, Steve hones in on the future of planning - the profession and, above all, the people. In it he meets three young planners, all with long careers ahead of them but who have already amassed a treasure chest of experience and insight to share with the sector today and those aspiring to follow them into their chosen profession. Steve asks them to talk through their career paths and ac...

The inaugural episode of "Steve Quartermain In Conversation With" kicks off with the former Chief Planner sitting down with the Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.  Hosted by Cratus Group Executive Chairman Nick Kilby and the Editor of The MJ, Heather Jameson, the ‘Our World is Local’ podcast is a space to learn about the key figure...

The “Steve Quartermain In Conversation With’’ series continues with an absorbing discussion between the former Chief Planner and Gail Mayhew in her capacity as one of the commissioners who produced the Building Better Building Beautiful Report. Hosted by Cratus Group Executive Chairman Nick Kilby and the Editor of The MJ, Heather Jameson, the ‘Our World is Local’ podcast is a space to learn about...

The “Steve Quartermain In Conversation With’’ series continues with the former Chief Planner discussing the prospects of a digital planning service with Euan Mills in his new role at MHCLG as Digital Transformation Manager. Hosted by Cratus Group Executive Chairman Nick Kilby and the Editor of The MJ, Heather Jameson, the ‘Our World is Local’ podcast is a space to learn about the key figures in lo...

The “Steve Quartermain In Conversation With” series continues with Steve Reed OBE, Shadow Secretary of State for Homes, Communities and Local Government. Reflecting on his long experience at a local level that included a period as Leader of LB Lambeth, Steve discusses the need to allow people a greater say in planning, to feedback on how it impacts them and the importance of decisions being taken...

In this episode, Cratus Managing Director Julian Seymour is joined by an esteemed panel, with guests including Steve Quartermain CBE, former Chief Planner at Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Bridget Smith, Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, Andrew Taylor, Head of Planning at Countryside, and Karen Bradford, Chief Executive of South Kesteven District Council to d...

Cratus Senior Associate and former Chief Planner, Steve Quartermain, was delighted to chair a debate on the impact of planning reforms on the retirement and supported living sectors. Among the panellists were Andy von Bradsky, Head of Architecture at Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Jeremy Porteus; Chief Executive of Housing LIN, Anne-Marie Nicholson, Partner at PRP Architect...

Cratus Associate Marlies Koutstaal hosts the latest edition of "Cratus In Conversation With", which features Cllr Vikki Slade, Leader of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, as its guest.  Together, they explore the challenges the BCP conurbation is currently facing, and the opportunities arising from those challenges. They consider the importance of strong city-region leadership...

For this edition of "Cratus In Conversation With", Cratus CEO Nick Kilby is joined by former Special Adviser Peter Cardwell, author of "The Secret Life of Special Advisers".  Peter shares his secrets from his life as a Special Adviser – from dealing with counter-terror emergencies in COBRA and explaining what a dental dam is to the Justice Secretary, to having your inside leg m...