For the fourth year in a row the government has handed councils a single year finance settlement, albeit with some indication of what to expect for the following year. After more than a decade of funding restraint and in the face of high inflation, the uncertainty of single year budgets adds to councils’ challenges in planning services. In this episode of The Local Authority, LGC, along with our partners TPXimpact, wanted to explore how councils are managing these circumstances. Joining LGC editor Sarah Calkin this month is Patrick Melia, chief executive at Sunderland City Council; Cllr Peter Marland (Lab), leader of Milton Keynes Council and Joanne Pitt, head of policy at the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy. Available on all podcast platforms now. 

More councils are struggling than ever before: in the past two years eight councils have been subject to formal government intervention or only narrowly avoided it, compared to five in the 12 years prior to that. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities recently advertised for inspectors and commissioners, suggesting there may be more interventions to come. In this episode of The Local Authority, we explore why so many councils currently appear to be struggling, the role of government commissioners and intervention and what it takes to bring about lasting improvement. Joining Sarah Calkin this month is Joanna Killian, chief executive at Surrey CC and commissioner at Liverpool City Council; Cllr Graham Chapman, former deputy leader at Nottingham City Council; Tony McArdle, chair at Croydon LBC Improvement Panel and Paul Frainer, partner at TPXimpact. 

Joining Sarah this month is Robin Tuddenham, chief executive at Calderdale MBC; Sarah McClinton, president of ADASS and director of health & adult services at Greenwich RBC; Miriam Deakin, deputy chief executive, NHS Providers; Sam Raffell, partner at TPXimpact.  The issue of delayed discharges and hospital capacity has dominated the headlines of late, with social care often bearing the brunt of the blame in the national narrative. In this episode of The Local Authority, we explore the complexities of the interface between health and social care and what that might mean for long term solutions to the current crisis. Crucially, we highlight the innovative approaches to addressing this issue already being taken in some local health and care systems and explore what best practice look like in reducing delayed discharges in health and care systems. All this and more on The Local Authority Podcast. Listen on all platforms now. 

Across society, businesses and other organisations have woken up to the importance of diversity in the workforce and the improvements it can bring to decision making. In local government it is even more important that councils reflect the communities they serve, amongst both officers and members, yet too often, especially at senior levels, this is not the case. In the next edition of The Local Authority podcast LGC, along with our partners TPX Impact, are seeking to explore what can be done to change this, as well as how local government can do more to build cohesive fairer communities.   Joining Sarah this month is Shazia Hussain, deputy chief executive at Waltham Forest LBC; Cllr Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council and Laura Harris, consultancy and change director at TPXimpact.    Listen on all podcast platforms now!

The workforce crisis facing local government has been well documented: from planners and finance teams to social workers and housing officers, councils are struggling to recruit the staff they need. What impact are high levels of vacancies having on how councils operate? What actions can councils take now to improve retention and recruitment? How can local government better market itself as an employer of choice? In this episode of The Local Authority, our panel will explore how councils can and are seeking to both address the immediate challenge and develop the workforce of the future.  Joining Sarah Calkin, LGC's editor this month is Simon Fletcher, chief executive at Lichfield DC, Cllr James Jamieson, chairman at the Local Government Association and Councillor at Central Bedfordshire Council and Emma Cheshire, senior partner at TPXimpact.  Available on all podcast platforms now!