Ep 52. What is the point of Local Government? Cllr Pete Marland

Public Sector Executive Podcast

The state of council finances is one of the most pressing issues across the public sector right now.

As councils face bankruptcy, cut funding and reduced services, and the demands for those services from communities pile on the pressure, the government is set to announce its budget for the next financial year.

In the 52nd episode of the Public Sector Executive Podcast Cllr Pete Marland joins host Dan Benn to discuss the challenges that councils face. Pete is Chair of the LGA’s Economy and Resources Board and Leader of Milton Keynes Council

Touching on the increase in demand for social care services, Pete said:

“More or less for every ten pounds they (councils) collect, they now spend eight pounds on children’s social care and adult social care. Obviously what that means is that there’s only two pounds left for everything else that councils do.”

Pete and Dan also explored the point of local government if councils aren’t given power to make local decisions, with Pete saying:

“Ultimately, I think there becomes a fundamental question about what the point of local government is if you end up just delivering statutory services set from the middle and not having any local flavour to it.

“What’s the point in local elections if all a local leader has to do every morning is get up and deliver statutory children’s care and not concentrate on what’s right for Manchester, or Lincolnshire, or wherever it may be.”

To hear from a leading voice within local government, listen to the latest episode of the Public Sector Executive Podcast.