The Local Authority Podcast

Metro mayors are the poster boys for devolution, but councils have a vital but often unappreciated role in combined authorities – soon to be renamed strategic authorities. With the government planning to ‘complete the map’ of devolution in England and reform how strategic authorities operate, this episode of the Local Authority podcast examines the relationship between strategic authorities and their constituent councils.

Acting editor Martin George is joined by Mark Rogers, associate director of the Leadership Centre, who has led teams establishing three new combined authorities, and Akash Paun, a programme director at the Institute for Government, where he leads the institute’s devolution programme.

Millions of people rely on social care every day, but it has long been a service in crisis with soaring demand, workforce shortages and inadequate funding, putting ever greater pressure on council finances. Against this backdrop, the Labour government was elected on a promise to set up a National Care Service.

In this episode, acting editor Martin George is joined by former care minister Paul Burstow, who now chairs the Social Care Institute for Excellence, and Andy Harrop, a director at Public First who as general secretary of the Fabian Society wrote a report for the Labour party setting out a roadmap to a National Care Service, to explore what a National Care Service could look like in practice, and how it could change the role of councils.

There has been a growing focus on neighbourhood working in local government for several years and now everybody seems to be talking about neighbourhoods. Last year the prime minister announced a £5bn investment in neighbourhoods, the NHS is rolling out neighbourhood health partnerships and all councils are going to be required to introduce neighbourhood governance arrangements.

In this episode of The Local Authority, LGC editor Sarah Calkin is joined by Jon Rouse, chief executive of Stoke-on-Trent City Council and member of the National Commission on Neighbourhoods and Madeleine Jennings, head of policy and comms at Local Trust to discuss why it has become such a political buzzword.

More than 165,000 children are currently estimated to be living in temporary accommodation as more and more families find themselves homeless. This often means living in unsuitable accommodation or moving away from friends and family for periods that most would not consider temporary. Councils are struggling to keep up with demand and the crisis is putting severe pressure on their budgets.

In this episode of The Local Authority, the podcast from LGC, recorded before the government published its homelessness strategy at the end of last year, we explore what can be done to alleviate the situation and provide relief for families and council budgets.

Head of content Kirsty Weakley is joined by Tom Stannard, chief Executive of Manchester City Council, Laura Neilson chief executive of the Shared Health Foundation and Jamie Carswell,  director of housing and safer communities at Greenwich RBC.

In this special episode of The Local Authority, LGC’s editorial team review the biggest stories of the year and look ahead to what might be dominating local government headlines in 2026.

Following a huge year for the sector, LGC editor Sarah Calkin, deputy editor Martin George, head of content Kirsty Weakley and chief reporter Caitlin Webb discuss topics including the rise of Reform, Send and what next year’s elections might mean for councils across the country.  Plus ministerial changes in MHCLG and why one council leader refused to wear Steve Reed's bucket hats.