Will the local government landscape in England look much different after LGR? How exactly will it save councils money? What impact will there be on elections?

LGIU Chief Executive Jonathan Carr-West and Principal Researcher Greg Stride dig into the final proposals produced by DPP areas last month and answer these and other questions sent in by LGIU members.

Chapter markers:

01:23 – Q1: How different will the landscape of local government look after LGR?
06:38 – Q2: How exactly will LGR save councils’ money?
08:35 – Q3: Where is public service reform in LGR?
12:29 – Q4: What impact will the reduction of councillors have on local democracy?
17:44 – Q5: What do the public think about LGR?
21:55 – Q6: How likely are the deadlines to still be met as planned?
23:20 – Q7: What will happen to councils that do not submit proposals?
27:36 – Q8: What impact will LGR have on elections?
30:32 – Q9: What’s your advice for non-DPP areas and central government regarding the decisions ahead?

As part of our interview series for Future Local Lab, LGIU’s Dr. Greg Stride interviews Claudia Chwalisz, founder and CEO of Democracy Next, about the role of citizens' assemblies in enhancing democracy. Claudia shares her journey into democracy advocacy, the principles of citizens' assemblies, their impact on local governance, and her deliberative vision for the future.

She discusses the evolution of these assemblies, particularly in Paris, and addresses the challenges and opposition they face. The conversation also touches on the warning signs of troubled democracies, the importance of sortition in encouraging participation, and the potential of technology to improve democratic processes. Claudia envisions a future where deliberative practices become the norm in various institutions, fostering greater civic engagement and trust in democracy. Watch/listen/read below for an engaging discussion about innovative democracy in action.

Claudia Chwalisz is one of LGIU’s top 25 thinkers in local government make sure you check out the rest of the list.

In this fireside chat, Jonathan Carr-West interviews Justin Galliford, CEO of Norse Group, discussing the role of Local Authority Trading Companies (LATCOs) in the UK local government landscape.

They explore the challenges faced by councils, the implications of local government reorganisation, and the importance of values-driven service delivery. Justin shares insights on partnership models and his future vision for public services, emphasising the need for collaboration and a focus on social value.

01:56 – What is a Local Authority Trading Company (LATCo)?
04:08 – Current challenges for local authorities’ delivery models
07:26 – The impact of local government reorganisation and devolution
10:03 – Supporting new unitary authorities
12:23 – The future of local government services
14:28 – Values-driven service delivery at Norse
17:56 – The partnership model in practice
20:50 – Long-term vision for public services
23:07 – Barriers to a preventive public service ecosystem
24:44 – Hopes for the future of local government

As part of our new interview series for Future Local Lab, we sat down with Dominic Campbell, a highly accomplished public service entrepreneur and thought leader with extensive experience driving organisational change and digital transformation across the UK, US and Australia.

Dominic has held various leadership roles, including founding and previously leading FutureGov, a consultancy focused on bringing digital and design into government development. Dominic is currently a partner at Impossible Ideas, a public service venture studio that focuses on investing in and inventing solutions to organisational challenges for the future of the public service sector. His impressive experience and dedication to public service innovation are exactly why we were excited to sit down with him to talk about transformation, technology and the future of local government.

Dominic Campbell is one of LGIU’s top 25 thinkers in local government make sure you check out the rest of the list.

As part of our new interview series for Future Local Lab, we interviewed Mary Agostino, the newly appointed CEO of Mitchell Shire Council and one of our top 25 thinkers, about her extensive experience supporting Melbourne's growth corridors. Mary's insights on local government leadership and building resilient communities are a must-read/watch/listen. Learn from a visionary leader dedicated to shaping a sustainable future.

Mary Agostino is one of LGIU’s top 25 thinkers in local government. Make sure you check out the rest of the list.

1:49 Mary Agostino’s journey into local government
4:07 Leadership during crises: bushfires and covid-19
7:35 Planning for the future
14:21 Building resilient communities in growth areas
18:20 Balancing the needs of established and emerging communities
19:57 Championing growth and self-determined communities
26:56 Advocating community needs for long-term growth
32:57 Future challenges for local government leaders

As part of our global interview series for Future Local Lab, LGIU’s Andrew Walker sat down with Dara Turnbull, Research Coordinator at Housing Europe, to discuss his current specialism in social and affordable housing and economic inequality and what the trends and predictions are for the future of housing.

This conversation covers a wide range of crucial issues, from the evolution of demographic trends to best practices across European nations and the implications of big data gaps for providing accurate insights. We also dig into what the appointment of a new Housing Commissioner for the EU means for this key policy area and how housing provisions in the future will have to adjust to meet demand.

Dara Turnbull is one of LGIU’s top 25 thinkers in local government make sure you check out the rest of the list.

As part of our new interview series for Future Local Lab, LGIU’s Head of Content, Freya Millard, sat down with Professor Lucy Easthope, a leading authority in emergency planning and disaster recovery. For over two decades, she has been at the forefront of the profession and involved in the biggest world-shaping disasters, from 9/11 to Covid-19, and many more that fall under and off the radar – but not for Lucy and her comrades in the hidden world of emergency planning.

In this thought-provoking discussion, Lucy shares her invaluable advice and expertise in helping local government and their communities recover and rebuild after disaster. We dig into the misconceptions of local emergency planning, the pertinent issues that infiltrate the sector, and the practicalities of how local government can work to improve citizen preparedness and resilience in the face of adversity, both now and in the future.

02:00 – The role of emergency planners

04:30 – Misconceptions and realities of local emergency planning

10:45 – The concept of secondary disasters and bad help

15:02 – Community preparedness and public involvement

23:16 – The value of planning and protecting the plan

25:57 – The cost of gender bias in emergency planning

31:49 – Tackling cultural incompetency in emergency response

35:22 – Walking the slow road of recovery

41:16 – Learning to live alongside risk and disaster

46:50 – Rebuilding the fabric of our society post-pandemic

53:07 – Reflections and key advice

Exclusive to LGIU members, join us for our upcoming Ask the Expert event with Lucy Easthope (Wednesday, 9th April, 10am BST). Here is your chance to ask Lucy your very own questions. Book your place.

LGIU's Head of Research, Dr Andrew Walker, talks to Dr Kevin Muldoon Smith about systems of local government finance and governance around the world. Dr Muldoon-Smith is an Associate Professor in Strategic Public Sector Finance and Urban Adaptation at Northumbria University and is working with LGIU's Local Democracy Research Centre on an international comparison project exploring different systems of funding.00:00 - Introduction02:10 - Short introduction to Kevin's career and work on local government governance and finance issues04:29 - Built environment - the nexus of policy, politics and power07:19 - LGIU's international local government finance project, a summary of what we know about different systems and how those structures help local government respond to the big global challenges15:27 - What does it take to enable change to take place in an existing system19:43 - The LGIU's upcoming paper on the local government finance system in Australia25:35 - What do the different systems around the world mean for the experiences of residents and local government staff30:15 - The role for academics and think tanks in promoting the argument for change