The Local Authority is a podcast by Local Government Chronicle.
Each month, the podcast will ask fundamental questions about how local government needs to adap...
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 explore all major aspects of the government’s plans, beginning with reorganisation.
In this episode, LGC editor Sarah Calkin is joined by:
Kevin Bentley, Conservative group lead at the LGA and leader of Essex CC
Richard Flinton, chief executive of North Yorkshire Council
Bridget Smith, Lib Dem leader of South Cambridgeshire DC
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48:35
Exploring Manchester's Better Outcomes, Better Lives health and social care programme
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 at neighbourhood level to improve support for residents in need of social care and avoid more than £39m in costs.
LGC editor Sarah Calkin is joined by Bernie Enright, Manchester City Council’s executive director for adult social services, Katy Calvin-Thomas, chief executive of the Manchester and Trafford local care organisations and Oliver Barnes, delivery director at IMPOWER to discuss how they did it.
Read more: Bernadette Enright: Delivering ‘good savings’ in adult social care
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48:11
Planning reform with Ann Carruthers, Richard Clewer and Hugh Ellis
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 episode of The Local Authority we explore whether the proposals will have the desired effect – and what else needs to change to deliver the homes the country needs.
LGC editor Sarah Calkin is joined by:
Ann Carruthers, president of the Association of directors of environment, planning and transport and director of environment and transport for Leicestershire CC
Richard Clewer, leader of Wiltshire Council and a member of the LGA’s local infrastructure and net zero board
Hugh Ellis, director of policy at the town and country planning association
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45:38
BONUS: Is the Government about to merge parts of the LGPS and enforce UK investment?
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 Martin George, deputy editor of Local Government Chronicle, are:
Sengal Selassie, CEO and founder of Brightwood Capital Advisors
Mike O'Donnell, former CEO of London CIV
Jo Kempton, head of Lincolnshire Pension Fund
Together they discuss the implications of the new UK Government, an upcoming U.S presidential election, and the potential for pension fund/pool mergers, structural change, UK-focused investment, and more.
Find out more about the event at investmentsummit.lgcplus.com
Read LGC's investment content at lgcplus.com/investment
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31:45
The search for good savings with Martin Reeves, Mark Smith, and Ebony Hughes from Impower
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 good savings look like and how councils can deliver more of them.
LGC editor Sarah Calkin is joined by:
Martin Reeves, chief executive, Oxfordshire CC
Mark Smith, director of public service reform, Gateshead MBC
Ebony Hughes, chief operating officer, Impower
The Local Authority is a podcast by Local Government Chronicle.
Each month, the podcast will ask fundamental questions about how local government needs to adapt to fulfil its full potential and best serve local populations.
It will see LGC assemble a small panel of significant figures from the sector to discuss one specific issue per episode.
All will have a focus on the future, with the emphasis being on innovation, fairness, policy change and place leadership.
Between launch in May 2021 and June 2023 the podcast was sponsored by TPXImpact.
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