The Local Authority Podcast

There has been a growing focus on neighbourhood working in local government for several years and now everybody seems to be talking about neighbourhoods. Last year the prime minister announced a £5bn investment in neighbourhoods, the NHS is rolling out neighbourhood health partnerships and all councils are going to be required to introduce neighbourhood governance arrangements.

In this episode of The Local Authority, LGC editor Sarah Calkin is joined by Jon Rouse, chief executive of Stoke-on-Trent City Council and member of the National Commission on Neighbourhoods and Madeleine Jennings, head of policy and comms at Local Trust to discuss why it has become such a political buzzword.

More than 165,000 children are currently estimated to be living in temporary accommodation as more and more families find themselves homeless. This often means living in unsuitable accommodation or moving away from friends and family for periods that most would not consider temporary. Councils are struggling to keep up with demand and the crisis is putting severe pressure on their budgets.

In this episode of The Local Authority, the podcast from LGC, recorded before the government published its homelessness strategy at the end of last year, we explore what can be done to alleviate the situation and provide relief for families and council budgets.

Head of content Kirsty Weakley is joined by Tom Stannard, chief Executive of Manchester City Council, Laura Neilson chief executive of the Shared Health Foundation and Jamie Carswell,  director of housing and safer communities at Greenwich RBC.

In this special episode of The Local Authority, LGC’s editorial team review the biggest stories of the year and look ahead to what might be dominating local government headlines in 2026.

Following a huge year for the sector, LGC editor Sarah Calkin, deputy editor Martin George, head of content Kirsty Weakley and chief reporter Caitlin Webb discuss topics including the rise of Reform, Send and what next year’s elections might mean for councils across the country.  Plus ministerial changes in MHCLG and why one council leader refused to wear Steve Reed's bucket hats.

In this episode of The Local Authority podcast, LGC’s head of content Kirsty Weakley is joined by Alan Clark (Barnet LBC), Kevin Fox (Capita) and Helen Barnard (Trussell Trust) to explore how councils can approach aged debt collection in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis.

With billions owed in council tax and business rates, collection is critical to funding public services, while the reality that many residents in arrears are already in severe financial hardship. Together the panel discuss the ways in which collection can be a more compassionate exercise, utilising technology, data, and a person-centred approach to improve efficiency and fairness.

This episode is sponsored by Capita: "Capita helps councils recover aged debt in a way that’s fair, ethical, and effective—so you can protect vulnerable residents while funding vital public services. Discover how our digital and AI-driven solutions make debt recovery smarter and more compassionate. Learn more at content.capita.com/aged-debt"

Almost a fifth of pupils are now classed as having special educational needs but under the current system parents feel they have to fight to get support for their child. Meanwhile councils are being pushed to the brink of bankruptcy by the costs of provision.

With the government promising to set out reforms in a schools white paper this autumn, this episode of The Local Authority explores what needs to happen to make sustainable services that work for families.

Joining LGC editor Sarah Calkin to discuss this topic are Rachael Wardell, Surrey CC director of children’s services and president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, Susan Parsonage, chief executive of Wokingham BC and Solace spokesperson on Send, and William Burns, social care policy advisor at the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy.