Fresh insights and interviews from local government leaders and innovators around the globe. A focus on practical policy and engaging chat. At the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU), we believe global challenges need local solutions.
LGR question time: with Jonathan Carr-West and Dr Greg Stride
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?
15 Jul 2025
Achieving a 92% consensus in an era of polarisation: Interview with Claudia Chwalisz
As part of our interview series for Future Local Lab (https://lgiu.org/future-local-lab/), LGIU’s Dr. Greg Stride interviews Claudia Chwalisz, founder and CEO of Democracy Next (https://www.demnext.org/), 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 (https://lgiu.org/publication/lgius-top-25-thinkers-in-local-government/) make sure you check out the rest of the list.
10 Jul 2025
Future Local Lab fireside chat with Justin Galliford
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
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 23 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
23
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
60
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