In this energising episode of The Truth About Local Government, Matthew Masters speaks with Jonathan Stephenson, Chief Executive of Brentwood Borough and Rochford District Councils, and the driving force behind the Public Sector Challenge. Together, they explore:

• The origins and evolution of the Public Sector Challenge as a movement for wellbeing, resilience and connection.
• Lessons from merging two councils without shared boundaries — and why culture, communication and shared systems matter.
• The opportunities and risks of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), including digital transformation, supplier relationships, and harmonising terms and conditions.
• How to build capacity for innovation in a sector under pressure — and why collaboration must become the default.
• The importance of transparency ...