Oldham Rising: Leadership, Legacy and Local Challenges with Arooj Shah
In this episode we sit down with Councillor Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council, to explore the borough’s bold regeneration plans, recent service improvements, and the challenges of modern civic leadership. Arooj shares her personal journey into politics, the values driving her leadership, and how Oldham is tackling identity politics, financial pressures, and community cohesion head-on. Listeners will gain insight into:The transformation of Oldham’s town centre and housing strategyImprovements in children’s services and future ambitionsNavigating political turbulence and building resilienceTackling budget constraints while protecting vulnerable residentsArooj’s vision for inclusive leadership and community empowermentThis episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in local government innovation, leadership under pressure, and the future of place-based transformation.
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20:42
Rochford Rising: Leadership, Localism and the Fight for the District’s Future
In this episode we sit down with Cllr Danielle Belton, Leader of Rochford District Council, to explore the exciting initiatives shaping the district’s future and the challenges that come with them. From town centre regeneration and community empowerment to resisting unsustainable housing pressures, Danielle shares her vision for a member-led, transparent administration. We discuss the council’s new Economic Growth Strategy, the controversial housing proposals, and how Rochford is navigating local government reform while staying true to its semi-rural identity. It’s a candid conversation about leadership, values, and the power of local decision-making.
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18:32
From Learning to Lasting Change: Making Training Stick with the COM-B Model
In this episode, we dive into one of the biggest challenges in organisational development: how to ensure that learning actually leads to behaviour change. We’re joined again by Kevan Collier, Strategic Learning and Organisational Development Lead at North West Employers, to explore how the COM-B model which stands for Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation – Behaviour can be used as a powerful framework to design learning experiences that truly stick.We unpack how local government leaders can apply COM-B to improve the transfer of learning from the classroom (or Zoom room) to the workplace, and how to create the right conditions for people to apply what they’ve learned in meaningful, measurable ways.
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Local Power, Financial Pressure, and Regeneration
In this episode we interview Cllr Millie Earl, Leader of Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (BCP) Council, to explore how local leadership is navigating financial adversity, driving regeneration, and empowering communities.Cllr Earl discusses the council’s strategic vision, including place-based regeneration, community governance reform, and the challenges posed by a significant SEND deficit. She shares her approach to collaborative leadership within the Three Towns Alliance and reflects on how BCP is balancing ambition with fiscal responsibility.Listeners will gain insight into:The realities of leading a unitary authority under financial strain.How BCP is investing in infrastructure and community empowerment.The importance of local decision-making and inclusive governance.
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Local Power, National Mission: Are Councils Equipped to Deliver Economic Growth?
In this episode we speak with Joe Fyans, Head of Research at Localis, to explore the reality behind the government’s rhetoric on locally-led economic growth. With devolution deals, investment zones, and levelling-up funding all pointing to a place-based approach, are councils truly equipped financially, structurally, and strategically to deliver? Joe shares insights from Localis research, highlighting the gaps between ambition and capability, and offers a candid assessment of what needs to change for local government to become a genuine engine of national prosperity.
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