Truth about Local Government

Truth about Local Government

by Matt Masters

Balancing Act: Navigating Parenthood and Career Success with Victoria Camp

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.

Breaking Ground: The Imperative need for Disruption in Local Government with Simon Fletcher

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.

Global blueprints: Unravelling local government finance models with Colin Copus

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?

Major Growth: How to Deliver!

Today we sat down with Alex and Louise Jelley, who are Directors at Alpine Planning Ltd. We discussed how local authorities can properly resource planning functions to deliver on their large scale development and regeneration programs. The key points we covered were: The importance of political buy-in, and how to get it Proactivity. Looking for solutions not problems. Problems are easy to identify. Getting over hurdles and finding answers is the tricky bit Dedicated resource to specific projects External support and funding (TCPA New Communities Group, for instance) Use of consultants – planning, landscape architects, transport, legal Planning Performance Agreements - mean the Council isn't paying over and above for consultants. It washes its own face! It can cover most of if not all of the consultant fee to work on the scheme and this means that council money can go on other things such as grow your own planners, training for newly qualified staff etc. Win – win Regular update meetings with applicant so they feel advised and in the know Available by phone or email every day Trust between council and consultant is key. Need to build reputation and relationships. Consultants can help improve performance and provide support Ability for planning officers within the Council to focus on other priorities. The council tells us what they want Councils get what they pay for in terms of experience and the ability to deal with majors. Major apps need specifically experienced planners. Skills are learned over years not months Talk about successes – make sure the wider community understands the infrastructure being delivered as a result and doesn’t just see road works and lost fields

Adapting Dynamics: Navigating Organisational Change with Polly Cziok

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.

How can councils best respond to housing and financial challenges Ft Martin Walker

Today we sat down with Martin Walker, Senior Director Place, Local Partnership LLP to discuss: ‘In the midst of a housing crisis, and facing severe financial pressures, how can councils best respond to these challenges in their areas?’ Our conversation explored three broad areas: Considering options to help manage the spiralling demand (and therefore cost) of temporary accommodation in their areas, through measures to boost affordable housing Reviewing progress made by councils’ own delivery vehicles which have been set up to bring about housing delivery in their areas Councils’ own delivery programmes for housing, through their Housing Revenue Accounts (which for many councils means considering whether to reopen them) Local Partnerships have created some great free tools for local authority leaders, links of which are below. Temporary Accommodation Model: Temporary accommodation model - Local Partnerships Housing Delivery Vehicle Toolkit: Housing Delivery Vehicles Toolkit (localpartnerships.gov.uk) Prioritising Housing Pipelines Toolkit: Prioritising housing pipelines - Local Partnerships

How do you provide robust assurance of ongoing sustainability of a local government against their budget?

I sat down today with Charmaine Leech, Senior Director, from Risk, Compliance and Governance Consulting Ltd to answer one important question. "How do you provide robust assurance of ongoing sustainability of a local government against their budget?"

Tackle income inequality and poverty to reduce pressure on the NHS ft Chris Perry.

Chris Perry is a former Director of Social Services for South Glamorgan County Council, a former Non-Executive Director of the Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust and a former Director of Age Concern Hampshire. Chris wrote an article on how as a society and as a local government sector if we tackle income inequality and poverty to reduce pressure on the NHS.

Now is the time to pivot to active wellbeing with Mark Tweedie

Thoroughly enjoyed sitting down with Mark Tweedie - Managing Director Brimhams Active. We discussed why now is the need to pivot to active wellebeing. Mark is an accomplished executive level leader with over 25 years experience in the education, sport and leisure industry. During the last decade of his career he has specialised in organisational transformation to increase efficiency and profitability, whilst redesigning services to increase impact across the domains of health, education, employability and social services.

Focus on an inclusive economy rather than just growth Ft Sarah Longlands

.Sarah Longlands is the Chief Executive of Centre for Local Economic Strategies. Sarah is an expert in regional and local economic development and argues for economic and social justice and the creation of places which enable people to live good lives. Her knowledge and passion for the sector is inspiring and she talked me through the need to re defining the narrative around local government and the need for economic strategies to focus on creating inclusive economies rather than just growth.

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