Catch up on the latest local government news and hear from people who are making the news. Listen here or subscribe in your favourite podcast app.
Homelessness is one of our society’s most intractable issues and one that has been at the top of the political agenda for several years. This week LGiU’s local government-led Homelessness Commission launched its final report. We discuss its recommendations on how to accelerate progress towards ending homelessness. And it would be remiss of us not…
Edinburgh Council’s Leader, Cllr Adam Mcvey, is marching the issue of tourism tax all the way to Holyrood. We speak to him about what he’s learned from the process about developing a solid evidence base and reaching out to less-than-enthusiastic stakeholders. Back in London, LGiU spoke before the CLG Select Committee this week about the…
This week’s podcast is an Andy Burnham special, featuring an exclusive interview with the Mayor of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, discussing the positive effects of devolution. Burnham gives his thoughts on a whole-place approach to reforming services, Whitehall’s top down approach and of course football. Plus we ask about homelessness in light of our…
On this week’s podcast, we reflect on what messages can be drawn from the surprising outcome of last week’s elections. Is it all about bins not Brexit, or are there more complex layers to these elections? We contemplate the increased Lib Dem and Independent vote, and speak to Cllr Steve Bridger, who was elected on…
Councillor candidate hopefuls up and down the country are out in force this week, as Thursday’s ballot looms. We speak to those people at the frontline of our local democracy – whether running for the first time, veteran campaigners, standing down or switching party – and to the Association of Electoral Administrators about the officers…
In light of the crisis facing the UK retail sector, councils have an integral role to play in shaping the future of these once-vibrant public spaces – and indeed their future financial security relies on business rates income to which retailers have typically been major contributors. This week we bring you ‘3 questions to ask yourself…
We bring you a taster of our recent appearance on Connected Local Gov TV, in which LGiU researcher Andrew Walker, Southwark Cabinet Member for Housing Stephanie Cryan, and Dawn Eckersley from the East London Housing Partnership discuss the drivers behind the housing crisis. Followed by run-down of recent LGiU member-only housing policy briefings such as…
Three quarters of English councils have elections in May – so what better time to give the tyres of our local democracy a kick? From the basics of publishing candidate names and polling station locations, to stamping out fake news in political discourse, we explore the ways councils can bring their citizens into local decision-making.…
In this episode of LGiU Fortnightly, Jonathan Carr-West and Ingrid Koehler explore the work LGiU has carried out over the past few weeks, and run through our latest briefings. We speak to Kim Fellows of LGiU Scotland about the role we play across the border, plus an interview with Dr Seán Ó’Riordáin of LGiU Ireland about…
Councils are facing unprecedented financial pressure and core services are creaking. How did we get here and what needs to happen? In this week’s bumper episode we speak to council leaders, the LGA, SOLACE and experts from the NAO, IFS and CfPS about their reaction to the findings of LGiU’s State of Local Government Finance…