The Truth about Local Government is a platform committed to providing a free resource to the local authority sector, seeking to provide solutions to the problems the sector is facing. Our purpose is to widen the echo chamber, where local government innovation and solution orientated action can be shared,
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Today I sat down with Sam Fox, a Chartered Town Planner with 30 years’ experience of working in local government, currently providing consultancy and interim services for the public sector. Sam has extensive knowledge of how local government operates, which provides him with invaluable insights into how to run services, and how to successfully secure investment and grant funding within the sector. Today we discussed: “How to balance the need to encourage inward investment with the constraints of the planning system to deliver effective place-shaping.” The solution is bringing these competing roles within local government and central government together. This is something Sam has been grappling with throughout his 30 year career and he draws on some examples of this, from the local to the national level. The key topics we cover in our discussion are: · Working positively with innovators · The importance of holding onto what is right but being flexible if change is needed. · Strong local leadership is key · The importance of micro and small businesses · Nationally significant projects – the importance of team work - from No 10 to the local level!
Victoria Camp is Director - Climate at Local Partnership LLP. We are exploring solutions to the challenges that face parents who work. We discussed: Is work/life balance possible? How do you find your voice as a new parent? Victoria's career journey and how Local Partnerships and local government support families (and also some lessons learned) - when people are more important than policy! Playing to your strengths as part of many teams - team family, team work, and team YOU. Let's talk about guilt..... An interesting and highly relevant episode, as many of us wear more than one hat.
Simon Fletcher wants to see a disruptor mentality utilised in local government to provide fresh new solutions to the problems the sector is facing. We explored the need for continual investment in culture as a starting point. The need to try a new approach when a solution previously utilised no longer works and then the need for the regional and national inter council collaboration to push projects and sector improvement plans forwards.
Great to sit down with Colin Copus, to discuss a new financial model for local government in the UK: a reflection on the sorts of financial and taxation powers commonplace for local government overseas, but lacking here. Is it time for a revolution of local government finances?
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 local government sector. I admire the honesty and insightful nature of Polly’s answer. Thank you to our sponsors RPNA, for supporting the podcast.