LGiU Fortnightly

Brexit is already a reality in local government – chief executives are engaging with preparations on a daily basis and have allocated the equivalent of 1-3 full time staff to these activities. Hear more results from our latest survey, in which we asked UK council chief executives all about how they're planning for Brexit. We also announce the shortlist for our annual Cllr Achievement Awards and discuss exciting new website features launching for LGiU members next week! Plus our regular roundup of member-only policy briefings and highlights from our Daily News emails, including Greater Manchester's transport ambitions, Essex's tree-planting work and Norwich winning the RIBA prize for their social housing. Hosted by Jonathan Carr-West and Andrew Walker. Tweet us @LGiU.

27th September - Keeping the show on the road by LGiU Fortnightly

As the 31st October approaches, councils across the country are preparing for a no-deal Brexit scenario – with very little guidance and minimal resources. As a major import centre for animal feed and pharmaceuticals, Cllr Tudor Evans, Leader of Plymouth City Council, tells us about his concerns for managing increased traffic through the city's port, the SoS's surprise announcement that councils are now responsible for dealing with Brexit-related economic issues, and the lack of advice and funding from central government. Plus a taster from our latest member-only briefings on New Towns and the Spending Round, and highlights from our Daily News service. Featuring stories on Extinction Rebellion protesting council infrastructure projects, Portsmouth's proposed clean air charge, warnings about declining SEND provision, Islington's fur trade ban and an 'immersive fire garden' in NE Lincolnshire. Hosted by Jennifer Glover and Jonathan Carr-West, with interviews by Ingrid Koehler. Tweet us @LGiU

A thriving community is what everyone in local government aspires to create and that's exactly what Ingrid found in the beautiful Welsh town of Llandrindod Wells. Hear about the community orchard run by Transition Llandrindod, the life of a Town Crier, the Victorian Festival and how to run a community cafe. We also discuss the turbulent national political picture, making (foolhardy) predictions about next week's spending round. Plus our regular roundup of daily news stories, including heating Islington using waste energy from the tube, declining health and safety prosecutions, Sheffield's committee system bid, South Norfolk's new alpaca herd and a mystery bus shelter renovation in Stroud. Hosted by Jennifer Glover and Ingrid Koehler. Tweet us @LGiU

With councils across the country declaring climate emergencies, we ask a couple of them what this really means for the way they work. Cllr Kevin Maguire, Cabinet Member for Environment in Norwich City Council, describes their approach to integrating environmental with social and economic outcomes, and Cllr Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council, tells us about their upcoming Citizen's Assembly on climate change. We then hear from Audrey de Nazelle from Imperial College's Centre for Environmental Policy about global examples of holistic urban planning that promotes livability and better health outcomes, while meeting environmental goals. Plus our regular roundup of daily news stories, including Yorkshire floods, drones policing park boundaries, public policing of engine idling, business rates reform, pothole complaints and the hunt for Darwin's ship. Hosted by Jonathan Carr-West and Ingrid Koehler. Tweet us @LGiU

The summer holidays are upon us and perhaps you might have a bit of headspace to think beyond the day-to-day running of your council. But what should you be thinking about? LGiU offers food for thought on some of the meatier, longterm challenges facing local government and wider society – public service transformation, climate change and public trust. Plus our regular roundup of member-only policy briefings, including school sports and selective licensing, and the best stories from our Daily News service, on poor quality dementia care, public bodies suing eachother over loss of income, Greater Manchester's transport ambitions, dedicated climate change teachers, and the Government's failure to set realistic housebuilding targets. And don't forget to tweet us your town hall holiday snaps to enter  our summer #TownHalliday competition! Hosted by Jonathan Carr-West and Jennifer Glover. Tweet us @LGiU

It's been a big week at LGiU. We hosted our annual Local Government APPG reception on the beautiful House of Commons terrace and launched the final report from the Local Finance Taskforce. Hear the full keynote speech by Rt Hon James Brokenshire, HCLG SoS, acknowledging the uncertainty facing local government, and an interview with Shadow SoS Andrew Gwynne, who discusses councils' financial pressures outlined in LGiU's report. Plus our regular roundup of LGiU member-only briefings – on Help to Buy, modern slavery, diversity in local government leadership and locked-up children – and highlights from our Daily News emails, including Sheffield's tree felling, legislating air quality targets, care provider failure risks, waste charges, declining disability benefits and some sillier stories about strange tourists. Hosted by Ingrid Koehler, Jonathan Carr-West and Jennifer Glover. Tweet us @LGiU https://www.lgiu.org.uk/2019/07/19/lgiu-fortnightly-19th-july-sos-local-gov-james-brokenshire-andrew-gwynne/

Recorded live from sunny Bournemouth, LGiU joined the great and the good of local government at the LGA's annual conference this week. We discuss the messages coming from Secretary of State James Brokenshire and new LGA chair Cllr James Jamieson, as well as updates from LGiU's fringe events. We caught up with many friendly faces at our reception with CAMRA, including CAMRA regional director Nigel Jones, and discussed how to support women into leadership roles at our breakfast meeting with the Fawcett Society – we interviewed Cllr Emily Smith, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council, and Cllr Yvonne Davies, Leader of Sandwell Council. Hosted by Ingrid Koehler, Jonathan Carr-West and Jennifer Glover. Tweet us @LGiU

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 to mention the race for the PM title, so we give our key asks from the UK's next leader. Plus our regular roundup of LGiU's recent member-only policy briefings, and the highlights from our Daily News emails including the 2-year anniversary of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, declining housing affordability for teachers and nurses, new 'green' trains to run on unprofitable routes and light-hearted stories from Bradford and Southend in 'And Finally'. Hosted by Jonathan Carr-West and Jennifer Glover. Tweet us @LGiU

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 future of council finances in the current uncertain context, and the importance of building a local taxation system that actually supports life-or-death services. Plus our regular roundup of LGiU member content including briefings –  on the Finnish basic income experiment and permitted development – and highlights from our Daily News emails – featuring updates from Northamptonshire, "the world's greenest football stadium", the effectiveness of Sure Start centres and Cornwall's space-age ambitions. Hosted by Ingrid Koehler and Jennifer Glover. Interview by Kim Fellows. Tweet us @LGiU

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.

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 Thursday as an Independent councillor for North Somerset Council. We also run through our latest briefings, including key resources for new councillors, and discuss the environmental crisis that local government is facing. Plus our regular roundup of Daily News including the Brent Bee Corridor and care homes. Cllr Steve Bridger, first-time councillor for North Somerset Council, on why he stood for election and the local issues affecting the authority. [18:53] Hosted by Jonathan Carr-West and Ingrid Koehler. Tweet us @LGiU

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 actually orchestrating this huge democratic project. Plus our thoughts on what to expect and details of our live results coverage. Guests: –Seena Shah (C), first-time councillor candidate for Chelmsford City Council, on why she wants to be involved in local politics and how she is persuading people against protest voting –Cllr David Tutt (LD), sitting leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, about residents' engagement with local issues despite the Brexit effect –Cllr Noelle Robinson (I), Ards and North Down Council, on her experience running as an Independent this time around and the fearful political environment in Northern Ireland –Cllr Alan Waters (L), sitting leader of Norwich City Council, on how the council is working to prevent low turnout due to voter fatigue –Cllr Michelle Lowe (C), deputy leader of Sevenoaks District Council (C), on why she decided not to stand again this year –Peter Stanyon, CEO of the Association of Electoral Administrators, talks us through the 'theatre' of delivering a successful election, from gas leaks to oversleeping caretakers. Hosted by Jonathan Carr-West, Ingrid Koehler and Jennifer Glover. Tweet us @LGiU

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 about the future of your high street', inspired by the latest LGiU briefing series on the topic. Plus our regular roundup of Daily News stories, including the compulsory home-schooling register, North Yorkshire road-building enterprise, inadequate funding to tackle air pollution and disability tech for polling day.  Hosted by Ingrid Koehler and Jennifer Glover. Tweet us @LGiU https://www.lgiu.org.uk/2019/04/12/lgiu-fortnightly-12th-april-what-next-for-the-british-high-street/

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 international lessons for tackling homelessness and Housing First schemes, as well as findings of the Work and Pensions Committee review of Universal Credit. Plus our regular roundup of the highlights from LGiU Daily News, including stories about Yorkshire devo, modern slavery, green transport infrastructure, LOBOs, private tower block cladding, as well as some more lighthearted stories about toad roads and Del Boy statues in And Finally. Hosted by Ingrid Koehler and Jennifer Glover. Tweet us @LGiU