Truth about Local Government

Today we sat down with Polly Cziok, Executive Director, Change and Innovation at the London Borough of Merton. We discussed organisational challenge and the values that under pin this, specifically looking at value retention, culture change and ED&I integration. We then explored the true meaning and purpose of transformation and the solutions to the challenges affecting recruitment into the lo...

Today we sat down with Martin Walker, Senior Director Place, Local Partnership LLP to discuss: ‘In the midst of a housing crisis, and facing severe financial pressures, how can councils best respond to these challenges in their areas?’ Our conversation explored three broad areas: Considering options to help manage the spiralling demand (and therefore cost) of temporary accommodation in their areas...

I sat down today with Charmaine Leech, Senior Director, from Risk, Compliance and Governance Consulting Ltd to answer one important question. "How do you provide robust assurance of ongoing sustainability of a local government against their budget?"

Chris Perry is a former Director of Social Services for South Glamorgan County Council, a former Non-Executive Director of the Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust and a former Director of Age Concern Hampshire. Chris wrote an article on how as a society and as a local government sector if we tackle income inequality and poverty to reduce pressure on the NHS.

Thoroughly enjoyed sitting down with Mark Tweedie - Managing Director Brimhams Active. We discussed why now is the need to pivot to active wellebeing. Mark is an accomplished executive level leader with over 25 years experience in the education, sport and leisure industry. During the last decade of his career he has specialised in organisational transformation to increase efficiency and profitabil...

.Sarah Longlands is the Chief Executive of Centre for Local Economic Strategies. Sarah is an expert in regional and local economic development and argues for economic and social justice and the creation of places which enable people to live good lives. Her knowledge and passion for the sector is inspiring and she talked me through the need to re defining the narrative around local government and t...

Great to sit down with Mark Smith, Chief Executive of Chippenham Town Council. At the core of our conversation was advice to local government leaders on the steps to provide stability as a leader and the positive outcomes that flow from this.

James Hewings is a father, a property professional working for Surrey County Council and is studying for job related qualifications. He is a busy man and being a good father and good employee are two top priorities. Today we discussed what employees and employers can do to help support parents and get the best out of them.

Culture and heritage can sometimes be an after thought for local authorities; but, it is imperative that you get a strategy in place. Today we sat down with Dr Tim Jenkins, a culture & heritage advisor who supports local authorities define and then realise their culture and heritage ambitions. We discussed: 1. The Future of Local Authority Museums (Legislation, Funding, Societal Cohesion, Plac...

Today we hosted the Director of Engagement from Socitm, David Ogden. We discussed the Public sector digital trends 2024, its implications and the position that Socitm is taking in the sector.

With so many local authorities needing to restructure to achieve cost savings, I spoke with Sarah Hayward a highly experienced Director of Change and Improvement about advice she would give to authorities going through this transition. The conversation covers, how to identify low hanging fruit, the importance of honesty and integrity, having evidence based outcomes in your financial decision makin...

Great to sit down with Richard Twelvetrees, Experience & Value Enablement Director, from de Novo Solutions. We explored how local authorities can use brainstorming collaboration to maximise their digital investment and get continued value from their digital transformation journey. Such an important topic.

Today I sat down with Rich Hanrahan, Co Founder of RPNA, who helps leaders develop high performing teams, lead more effectively and create unstoppable momentum. We discussed the problem, around the war for talent - how to attract and retain the best people. One of the key levers that councils can utilise is flexible working arrangements. Rich talked through how we can make flexibility work for emp...

SaveTheHighStreet.org launched in August 2016 with the the release of a Manifesto that outlined a new vision for the high street and how we achieve it together. Today , SaveTheHighStreet.org is led by a passionate dedicated team, an Advisory Board of 200+ high street businesses and industry experts, a fast-growing community of Local Champions and dozens of other partners across both public and pri...

Join us in this episode of Truth about local government, as we delve into the intricacies of the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) with Damien Dacey - Interim Director of Devolution. As one of the UK's pivotal regions, the East Midlands is undergoing transformative changes, and understanding the role and impact of the EMCCA is essential. In this episode, we uncover the following: Wha...

Ben is a highly regarded local government executive director, management consultant, non-exec director and poacher/gamekeeper with almost 40 years public services experience. Throughout Ben’s substantive and consulting career he has a successful track record of managing, leading, and transforming services and commercial ventures across People, Place and Corporate Services, often in highly politica...

I sat down with Helen McGrath, Executive DIrector of Policy and Governance at the LLG (Lawyers in Local Government). We discussed the need for robustness with councils code of conduct, particularly on the use of council address for political purposes. We then explored how this can be extended by reference to cllr addresses and the increase in abuse against them.

Recruitment and retention are two of the largest challenges facing the local authority space. With so much spend on interim staff, councils utilise MSP (managed service providers) to deliver a cost effective and trackable recruitment service. For any council with an MSP, re tendering or considering using an MSP, finding a cost effective solution, that meets your financial, social and organisationa...

In our second part with the eminent Colin Copus, we discussed the constitutional standing and status of local government. We explored why we need to emphasise the ‘government’ in local government more – the sorts of freedoms, powers and autonomy that is commonplace to local government across the globe, but lacking here and why.

Great to sit down with Lauren Sadler, who is a health and social care transformation consultant, exploring how we can achieve better integration between local authorities and the NHS. We explored the challenges and the solutions in a compact, but highly productive conversation. If you start with the why, instead of the governance, the momentum can help overcome the considerable challenges to integ...

Today Alison and I explored how by utilising the levers of flexible working and placemaking we can tackle inequality within society.

Sarah Hall is the Deputy Director of Law and Governance at West Northamptonshire Council. She shared her experience of recruiting an entire new legal team from essentially a standing start when the new unitary was formed. She gave her advice to monitoring officers and legal leaders about how she has via direct recruitment achieved this. Sarah's proactive and entrepreneurial approach is exactly wha...

For me LocalGov Drupal is the epitome of the potential of local government. Instead of each council reinventing the wheel, via collaboration they are saving councils time, money and the isolation of tackling IT challenges alone. What WillCallaghan, Co Founder and Product & Project Lead and his team have created is an inspiration. The profit that come from the group go back into the platform. L...

The future of the expansion of green transport fundamentally relies on the ability of local and central government to embrace electric vehicle infrastructure. Today I sat down with Adrian Fielden-Gray COO - Be. EV ; Co-Founder. Be. Ev is responsible for the growth and ongoing operations of the 'Be. EV' network, currently the largest network of public EV chargers in Greater Manchester and expanding...

It was great to sit down with Majeed Neky, Assistant Director - Economy at West London Alliance to discuss what local government can do to encourage devolution from central government. Majeed has worked at a senior level in both central and local government and thus provides a really interesting vantage point, to discuss how local and central government can best work together. We discussed: Local...