Truth about Local Government

Truth about Local Government

di Matt Masters

Constitutionalising English Local Government

In this episode of The Truth About Local Government, Matthew Masters speaks with Professor Jonathan Davies about one of the most fundamental questions facing English local government: should local government be constitutionally recognised and protected? England remains unusual among mature democracies in lacking constitutional safeguards for local government. Councils are created by Parliament and can be reorganised, merged, abolished or have responsibilities transferred with relatively limited formal protection. As devolution gathers pace through combined authorities, strategic authorities and elected mayors, questions are increasingly being asked about whether local government needs stronger constitutional foundations. The discussion explores what constitutional recognition could mean in practice, whether it would genuinely strengthen local democracy, and how it might reshape the relationship between Whitehall and local places. Jonathan examines the tensions between local autonomy and central government control, the opportunities and challenges arising from devolution, and whether meaningful protections are possible without a fully written constitution. The episode also looks ahead, considering how English local government may evolve over the next decade. With ongoing reforms, growing demands on public services, fiscal pressures and increasing expectations on local leadership, could constitutional change provide the stability and clarity needed for the future? Or are more pragmatic reforms the answer? This conversation offers an insightful examination of power, democracy and governance, and explores whether England's local authorities are entering a new constitutional era.

Creating Autism-Friendly Schools: Lessons for Education and Beyond

In this episode, Matt Masters speaks with autism expert Alex Manners about what it takes to create truly autism-friendly schools. Drawing on his own experiences of navigating education as an autistic young person, Alex shares what school was like growing up and reflects on the challenges and opportunities he encountered along the way. Together, they explore how schools, academy trusts and local authorities can better understand and support autistic children by creating inclusive environments where they feel valued, respected and able to thrive. The conversation offers practical insights into building educational settings that recognise individual strengths, remove unnecessary barriers and help every autistic learner reach their full potential.

Creating Content That Matters for the Local Government Sector.

Local government has never had more access to content, research, podcasts, reports and thought leadership. Yet with leaders under immense pressure and time constraints, how do we ensure the content being produced actually helps drive innovation, challenge thinking and improve services? In this episode of The Truth About Local Government, Matt Masters is joined by Ian Mensah-Stapleton, Founder of the Public Finance Podcast, to discuss the opportunities and challenges of creating genuinely valuable content for the local government sector. Together they explore what separates meaningful insight from noise, why authentic practitioner-led content matters, and how thought leadership can support better decision-making across public services.

Supporting Neurodivergent Members: Better Councils, Better Communities

Neurodivergent people are represented across every part of society, including local government, yet the conversation about supporting neurodivergent elected members is often overlooked. In this episode of The Truth About Local Government, Simon Bowers interviews Matt Masters about why councils should be doing more to recognise, support and develop neurodivergent councillors. The discussion explores how better support can strengthen local democracy, improve officer-member relationships, enhance decision-making, reduce burnout and encourage a broader range of people to stand for elected office. Matt shares practical insights on creating councillor environments that enable people with different thinking styles to thrive, ultimately leading to better outcomes for councils, communities and residents.

Autism in the Workplace Unlocking Neurodivergent Talent

Local government continues to face significant workforce challenges, yet many organisations unintentionally create barriers that prevent autistic employees from reaching their full potential. In this episode, Matt Masters is joined by autism and neurodiversity advocate Alex Manners to explore what it is really like to enter, navigate and succeed in the workplace as an autistic professional. Drawing on his lived experience, Alex shares the challenges he has encountered throughout education, employment and everyday life, as well as the adjustments and support that have made the biggest difference. Together, they discuss how councils and public sector organisations can create more inclusive working environments, improve retention, access a wider talent pool and unlock the strengths that neurodivergent colleagues bring to the workplace. Alex Manners is an autism and neurodiversity speaker, presenter, author and Asperger’s champion who has delivered motivational and educational talks to organisations across the UK. He is the author of That's Not Right! My Life Living with Asperger’s and The Autistic 92, and is widely recognised for his appearances on Channel 4’s The Undateables. Through honest conversation and practical insights, this episode highlights why neuro-inclusion is not just the right thing to do, but a vital part of building a stronger, more resilient workforce for the future.

Powers you didn't know you had: The example of the Oxford temporary congestion charge

This episode kicks off our mini-series on 'powers you didn't know you had', about powers that are either unknown, not recognised, or just felt to be too difficult to use, but may offer opportunities to address problems faced by our communities. We talk with Aron Wisdom of Oxfordshire County Council about the Oxford Temporary Congestion Charge, Aron's experience of introducing the charge, and lessons others may draw from this.

Mapping the Future: Local Government Reorganisation, Political Change and Development Delivery

Local Government Reorganisation is reshaping the local government landscape across England, creating new authorities, redefining political relationships and raising important questions about how places will be planned, governed and developed in the years ahead. In this episode of The Truth About Local Government, we explore DevComms' new interactive LGR mapping tool and discuss what it reveals about the changing geography of local government. We examine how political leadership, decision-making structures and stakeholder relationships may evolve as new councils emerge, and what this means for developers, investors, communities and public sector partners. The conversation also explores the practical implications for housing delivery, infrastructure investment, regeneration projects and planning policy. As councils prepare for one of the most significant periods of change in local government for a generation, we consider whether reorganisation will create barriers to progress or unlock new opportunities for growth, collaboration and place-making.

Creating Space for Reflection: Supporting Wellbeing Through Schwartz Rounds

Public service can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also carry a significant emotional burden. Every day, local government employees support vulnerable residents, navigate difficult situations and make decisions that have a profound impact on people's lives. In this episode, Matt Masters is joined by Anna Syson, Head of Workforce Policy and Wellbeing at Cambridgeshire County Council, to explore how the council is creating safe spaces for colleagues to reflect on the emotional realities of their work through Schwartz Rounds. We discuss what inspired the council to adopt this approach, what has made it successful, why reflection is so important for workforce wellbeing and what other councils can learn from their experience. Together, we explore how creating opportunities for honest conversation can strengthen resilience, connection and compassion across local government.

What Must Be True? The Six Conditions for Sustained Change in Local Government

Local government leaders are being asked to achieve something unprecedented: maintain frontline services under intense financial and workforce pressures whilst simultaneously redesigning organisations for a rapidly changing future. In this episode of The Truth About Local Government, Matt Masters is joined by Paul Knight, Co-Founder of RPNA and author of What Must Be True?, alongside Adam Hill, Chief Executive of Rushcliffe Borough Council. Together, they explore the six conditions that RPNA argues must be present for meaningful and lasting organisational change: collective leadership authority, strategic and financial reality, decision-making and governance, organisational capability and capacity, change and delivery discipline, and trust, narrative and communication. Drawing on Adam's experience leading a local authority, the discussion examines whether these themes resonate in practice, why change programmes so often struggle to deliver their intended outcomes, and what local government leaders can do differently to build organisations capable of sustaining change in an era of financial constraint, workforce pressures, technological transformation and local government reorganisation.

What Good Looks Like: Delivering Housing Through Public–Private Partnership

In this episode, Matthew Masters sits down with Faraz Baber to explore what great public–private partnership really looks like in practice and why it is critical to unlocking housing delivery and economic growth across the UK. Drawing on his experience working across both local government and the private sector, Faraz shares a candid view of where partnerships succeed, where they fall short, and what genuinely drives delivery. The conversation moves beyond theory to focus on the practical realities of collaboration: trust, leadership, shared ambition, and the balance between commercial drivers and public value. Bringing this to life, Faraz reflects on two major regeneration schemes he played a central role in: Grand Union in North West London and Canalside South in Wolverhampton. These case studies demonstrate the transformational impact that effective partnerships can have, turning underused or derelict land into thriving communities, delivering thousands of new homes, creating jobs, and driving long-term economic growth. The discussion provides honest insight into the challenges that still exist, from planning and funding constraints to the complexity of aligning stakeholders; but also offers clear, actionable advice for senior leaders on how to create the conditions for success. This episode is essential listening for Chief Executives, Directors, and leaders across the public and private sectors who are serious about accelerating housing delivery and making regeneration schemes a reality.

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