Our World Is Local

In this latest episode of Our World is Local, our hosts Nick Kilby (Cratus Group) and Heather Jameson (The MJ) are joined by Jonathan Stephenson, Chief Executive at Brentwood Borough Council and Rochford District Council. During the discussion, Jonathan talks about the unique challenge of managing two councils that are not conjoined by a geographical border, and his own experience

In this episode, Nick Kilby and Heather Jameson are joined by two special guests as we look ahead to next week's Local Elections that are taking place across England. Nick and Heather are first joined by New Local's Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Jessica Studdert, to talk about the upcoming election cycle and what it could mean for the state of national politics. Cratus Group's Du

In this episode, Nick Kilby and Heather Jameson are joined by Rob Whiteman, who is the out-going Chief Executive of CIPFA.Rob is a well-known commentator and expert on public service reform and modernisation on a wide range of areas, and in 2008 was named one of the ten most influential people in local government by the Local Government Chronicle. The trio go in-depth during this c

In this special episode of Our World is Local, Nick Kilby and Heather Jameson travelled to the Leader's Office in the Birmingham City Council chambers to sit down with the Leader of the Council, John Cotton.In 2023, Birmingham City Council suffered the ignominy of having to issue not one but two section 114 notices. An effective bankruptcy order meaning that a council can no longer

Ahead of the DCN Conference this week, Nick Kilby and Heather Jameson sat down to talk about the ongoing problems facing local government. The pair were also joined by Cratus' Charlotte Platten who reveals some council polling that is set to take place in the coming weeks, and casts an eye forward to the focus and direction of the District Councils.Hosted by Cratus Group CEO Nick K

Nick Kilby (Cratus Group) and Heather Jameson (The MJ) are back with the first episode of Our World is Local in 2024.Kicking things off for the new year is Dr Jonathan Carr-West, who is the Chief Executive of the Local Government Information Unit and a leading national expert on local government transformation.This conversation looks at the state of local government finances amid t

In this very special episode of Our World is Local, it's an all Cratus Group and Municipal Journal affair as hosts Nick Kilby and Heather Jameson are joined by two expert special guests in the form of Duncan Flynn (Cratus Group) and Mark Conrad (MJ).This bumper episode, and penultimate instalment of 2023, follows a whirlwind few weeks in politics and tackles what is likely to be th

For this latest episode of Our World is Local, Nick Kilby (Cratus) and Heather Jameson (Municipal Journal) are joined by Councillor Tim Oliver, Leader of Surrey County Council. Cllr Oliver has led Surrey County Council since 2018 and back in 2021, became the Chair of the County Councils Network who collectively serve 25 million people and are responsible for £32bn of public spendi

This episode is the final part of our on-location special dispatches from the party conferences. While in Liverpool for the Labour Party Conference, Cratus spoke to key decision-makers as the party set out its vision as it prepares for the next General Election.We spoke to the following members Labour Party councillors to get their thoughts on the conference, including their reacti

This episode is the second in a series of on-location special dispatches from the party conferences. While in Manchester, Cratus spoke to a number of party members in what could possibly be their last conference before the General Election.Cratus' Dan Humphreys and Osman Dervish spoke to the following figures in the party during the conference: Ben Spencer, MP for Runnymede and Wey