Best Cratus Group Podcasts (2024)

1
Navigating Change: The Future of Local Government and Devolution 30:18

1h ago30:18

30:18

In this month’s episode of Our World is Local, hosts Nick Kilby and Heather Jameson dive into one of the most significant periods for local and national politics in recent memory. With fresh faces in local government, major announcements from the LGA conference, and a looming white paper on devolution and reorganization, there's a lot to unpack! Tu…

1
Leading Through Change: Matt Prosser on Unitary Authority, Local Government, and Public Service Leadership 40:22

23d ago40:22

40:22

In this episode, we welcome Matt Prosser, Chief Executive of Dorset Council and President of Solace, the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers. Matt shares insights from his six years leading Dorset Council, discussing the challenges and successes of creating a unitary authority, balancing financial pressures, and maintain…

1
A Brief History of Planning 2010-2024 1:05:32

28d ago1:05:32

1:05:32

Back in March 2024 friend of the podcast Catriona Riddell gave a lecture at UCL’s Bartlett School of Planning that she called ‘Strategic Planning in England - Where did we go so wrong?’. Sam Stafford couldn’t be there that night, but Catriona shared her slides on LinkedIn and they read to Sam almost like a ‘Brief History of Planning 2010-2024’, whi…

1
100 Days of Labour 1:04:33

1M ago1:04:33

1:04:33

Saturday 12 October 2024 marks 100 days of the new Labour Government. In anticipation of this milestone Landmark Chambers and Town Legal hosted a seminar in London this week to provide an in-depth review of Labour's first 100 days in power and the impact on planning law and policy. The session was recorded so that Sam Stafford could share it by way…

1
Not the NPPF 52:56

2M ago52:56

52:56

Last week, on NPPF deadline day, Sam Stafford was in Manchester and took the opportunity to catch up with friends of the podcast Katie Wray, David Diggle, Greg Dickson, Mark Parkinson and Claire Petricca-Riding at the studios of Reform Radio. Conscious that the podcast has covered the revised NPPF in episodes 128 and 131, they talked about some of …

1
The future for local government with former Secretary of State Prof John Denham 40:08

2M ago40:08

40:08

In this week's episode, hosts NIck Kilby and Heather Jameson are joined by Professor John Denham, former Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. The trio discuss the priorities for an incoming government, focusing on the challenges faced by local authorities, including financial pressures and the need for a clear vision for local g…

1
The YIMBY Crowd 53:57

2M ago53:57

53:57

"‘The moment has come’: pro-building Labour YIMBYs are set to raise the roof" was the title of a piece in the Observer ahead of the Labour Party Conference (link below). For many of the most ambitious of the new cohort of Labour MPs, this is the fashionable campaign of the moment, not for economic growth but as a social justice movement – and one t…

1
The Masterplan 55:56

3M ago55:56

55:56

If you have listened to episodes 125 and 128 you will know Sam Stafford sought to cover, pre-publication, what could and should be in the new version of NPPF. With the consultation deadline now starting to loom large, this episode seeks to cover what is actually in it. Sam was in London earlier this week and caught up with friends of the podcast An…

1
Hitting the High Notes - Mike Best 1:04:55

3M ago1:04:55

1:04:55

In Hitting the High Notes episodes Sam Stafford chats to preeminent figures in the planning and property sectors about the six planning permissions or projects that helped to shape them as professionals. And, so that Listeners can get to know people a little better personally, for every project or stage of their career Sam also asks his guests for …

1
To rebuild or to retrofit? 50:41

3M ago50:41

50:41

To rebuild or to retrofit? That is the question posed by former Secretary of State Michael Gove’s intervention in planning applications for the redevelopment of M&S’ Oxford Street store and the former Museum of London building. According to the Climate Change Committee, direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions from buildings account for 23% of …

1
Local Authority of the Year with Mike Harden 31:37

3M ago31:37

31:37

In this episode of Our World is Local, hosts Nick Kilby and Heather Jameson are joined by Chief Executive of Knowsley Council, Mike Harden. Back in June, Knowsley Council took home the prestigious 'Local Authority of the Year' award at the annual Municipal Journal Awards, and in this conversation Mike talks about Knowsley's success story, and his j…

1
Labour of Love 1:44:41

4M ago1:44:41

1:44:41

Sam Stafford has mentioned previously that the podcast would consider the new Government’s reform agenda and this is an attempt at doing so. The specifics of the NPPF consultation will be covered in more depth in due course, but what Listeners will hear in this jam-packed extravaganza of an episode is an exploration of that reform agenda in it’s br…

1
Let's get digital 1:21:32

4M ago1:21:32

1:21:32

Long-serving Listeners might recall that for Episode 6 of 50 Shades of Planning Sam Stafford published a chat with Euan Mills, then of the Connected Places Catapult, on the potential for digital innovation, urban data, and user-centred design to improve the planning system. Euan, now CEO and co-founder of Blocktype, got in touch with Sam Stafford e…

1
A Lifetime of Service with Sir Bob Neill 42:00

4M ago42:00

42:00

In this latest episode of 'Our World is Local', hosts Nick Kilby and Heather Jameson are joined by Sir Bob Neill, just a few weeks after the dissolution of parliament which brought an end to his 18-year stint as MP for Bromley and Chislehurst. During this conversation, Sir Bob details his political journey which began 50 years ago when he first won…

1
Housing by popular demand 59:04

5M ago59:04

59:04

One of the new Labour Government’s manifesto pledges is the construction of 1.5 million new homes between now and the end of this new parliament. “We will ensure local communities continue to shape housebuilding in their area, but where necessary Labour will not be afraid to make full use of intervention powers to build the houses we need”, the man…

1
What do we want? 54:29

5M ago54:29

54:29

With a General Election now imminent Sam Stafford thought that it might be interesting to try to compare what is being offered by the main political parties in relation to housing, planning and development with what the housing, planning and development sector would like to see being offered. In a conversation recorded at Outset Studios in Shoredit…

1
General Election Preview with James Goldstone 33:21

5M ago33:21

33:21

With just under two weeks to go until the 2024 General Election, hosts Nick Kilby and Heather Jameson sat down for an Our World is Local election special episode, and were joined by Cratus Group's Director of London Planning, James Goldstone. James worked for the Labour Party as a London campaigns organiser, managing three General Elections and two…

1
Efficiency Savings 1:05:10

5M ago1:05:10

1:05:10

In February 2024 Planning published a special report by Joey Gardiner entitled ‘how cost-saving consultants disrupted council planning services’. Cash-strapped councils have been following management consultants’ advice to split up their planning teams. Staff have been put into central departments to handle additional non-planning tasks. But the up…

1
Neutral Impact III (and a bit of Green Belt) 58:06

6M ago58:06

58:06

When Sam Stafford first covered nutrient neutrality, in February 2021, he described the process of eutrophication as a bit like the podcast itself: a little niche, but very important. When Sam published a second episode in September 2022 it had grown in importance to the extent that Prime Minister Liz Truss had pledged to "scrap nutrient neutrality…

1
Joint Council Collaboration with Jonathan Stephenson 33:58

6M ago33:58

33:58

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 geographic…

1
Love Thy Neighbourhood Plan 59:32

6M ago59:32

59:32

What are we to make of neighbourhood planning? Friend of the podcast Ben Castell considers it a “grassroots planning revolution”. Perhaps less favourably it conjures for others images of corduroy and tweed-clad councillors convening a parish council working group to thwart plans for an incinerator or, worse still, new housing. With neighbourhood pl…

1
Grey Belt 47:21

7M ago47:21

47:21

Sam Stafford was in London recently and took the opportunity to catch up with friends of the podcast Catriona Riddell, Shelly Rouse and Nicola Gooch at Soho Radio Studios. One topic, the hot topic of the past few weeks, dominated the conversation. “Labour pledges housebuilding drive on Grey Belt with ‘golden rules’ to boost public services, afforda…

1
Local Election Preview with Jessica Studdert and Duncan Flynn 38:51

7M ago38:51

38:51

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 na…

1
A Hillside to die on 46:16

7M ago46:16

46:16

Sam Stafford was in Manchester recently and took the opportunity to catch up with friends of the podcast Greg Dickson and Claire Petricca-Riding. During a conversation recorded at Reform Radio they talked about another exciting few weeks in the fast-paced, ever-changing, rock and roll world of town and country planning. They talked about RPs not bi…

1
Hitting the High Notes - Nick Kilby 1:06:14

7M ago1:06:14

1:06:14

In Hitting the High Notes episodes Sam Stafford chats to preeminent figures in the planning and property sectors about the six planning permissions or projects that helped to shape them as professionals. And, so that Listeners can get to know people a little better personally, for every project or stage of their career Sam also asks his guests for …

1
Reforming Local Government with Rob Whiteman 39:24

8M ago39:24

39:24

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.…

1
Road To Financial Recovery with Cllr John Cotton 37:20

8M ago37:20

37:20

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 m…

1
Banishing Boxland 48:50

8M ago48:50

48:50

The Prime Minister recently announced plans to "turbocharge" development within England's largest towns and cities to mark a Government consultation on strengthening planning policy for brownfield development. Sam Stafford thought then that now would be a good time to share a conversation that he recorded online in August 2023 with old friends of t…

1
DCN Preview with Charlotte Platten 20:43

8M ago20:43

20:43

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…

1
Capturing the Zeitgeist 51:47

9M ago51:47

51:47

This episode is a ramblechat that Sam Stafford recorded in London with friends of the podcast Hashi Mohamed, Simon Ricketts, Nicola Gooch and Andrew Taylor during which they reflected on another exciting few weeks in the fast-paced, ever-changing, rock and roll world of town and country planning. The conversation takes in the back-dating of Section…

1
Critical Infrastructure 53:10

9M ago53:10

53:10

Building GP surgeries, schools and roads is not just difficult it is so difficult, according to no less of an expert on such matters than the Prime Minister, as to be a reason to not even contemplate growing existing towns and cities. In introducing recent proposals to put “rocket boosters” under construction in existing built-up areas, Rishi Sunak…

1
Hitting the High Notes - Simon Ricketts 54:57

10M ago54:57

54:57

This episode is another in the Hitting The High Notes series. If you have not listened to one before the basic proposition is that Sam Stafford chats to preeminent figures in the planning and property sectors about the six planning permissions or projects that helped to shape them as professionals. And, so that Listeners can get to know people a li…

1
Council Finance and Stability with Dr Jonathan Carr-West 45:43

10M ago45:43

45:43

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…

1
NPPF 2023 Update - What Next? 57:47

10M ago57:47

57:47

At the kind invitation of Landmark Chambers and Town Legal, Sam Stafford was in London this week to contribute to a seminar on the NPPF update, which, eagle-eyed 50 Shades Listeners no doubt spotted, emerged as part of a cavalcade of Planning Reform Day announcements before Christmas. The seminar was over-subscribed and so was recorded in order tha…

1
🏆The #Planaraks Awards 2023🏆 1:02:01

11M ago1:02:01

1:02:01

Hopefully everybody involved in the fast-paced, ever-changing, rock and roll world of town and country has had a restful Christmas and have managed to combine at least a little rest with digesting the cavalcade of announcements on Planning Reform Day. This episode is the third of the festive 50 Shades triumvirate looking back at 2023. The first two…

1
🎅🏻The 50 Shades of Planning Festive Christmas Quiz - London🤶🏻 1:04:29

11M ago1:04:29

1:04:29

Well Planning Reform Day finally arrived, just in time for the profession to be able to digest a cavalcade of announcements over Christmas, but not in time for the second and third of the festive 50 Shades episodes. The podcast will be covering the new NPPF in due course, but put all of that hullabaloo to one side for now and let Sam Stafford and f…

1
☃️The 50 Shades of Planning Festive Christmas Quiz - Manchester🎄 51:08

11M ago51:08

51:08

So it is Christmas and, as Sam Stafford was asked in his appraisal, what have you done? Another year over and a new one just begun. If you cannot actually remember what you have done this year and if, as you look back, it has just been a blur of government consultation after government consultation, then the 50 Shades of Planning podcast is here to…

1
Pre-Apps & PPAs 55:09

12M ago55:09

55:09

As far back as Sam Stafford can remember Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs) have been the answer to questions about both how to get more resources into LPAs and how to improve application timescales. As Sam says in introducing this episode, he has been working for over twenty years, those questions remain unanswered, and PPAs remain a code yet …

1
A B~~~~~'s Muddle 1:00:55

12M ago1:00:55

1:00:55

Before heading to London for the week, Sam Stafford caught up with 50 Shades stalwarts Paul Smith, Katie Wray and Ian Wray for a wide-ranging ramblechat at the Reform Radio studios in Manchester. Paul is Managing Director at the Strategic Land Group, a Director at the LPDF and a columnist for Housing Today. Katie is a Director at Deloitte. Ian is a…

1
Asylum Seeking and Reshuffling with Duncan Flynn and Mark Conrad 41:06

12M ago41:06

41:06

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 …

1
Going Public 1:11:59

12M ago1:11:59

1:11:59

The RTPI's recently published ‘State of the Profession’ report identified, perhaps unsurprisingly, that planners are increasingly being employed in the private sector, with numbers growing by a third over the last decade. The number of planners working in the public sector has reportedly shrunk by a quarter over the same period. Pleasingly though a…

1
A Plan for England 1:00:12

1y ago1:00:12

1:00:12

"Regional Spatial Strategies bridged the gap between those planning issues determined by local policy or concern, and those subject to policy goals defined at a national level – such as those for housing or renewable energy. The intended abolition of regional spatial planning strategies leaves a vacuum at the heart of the English planning system wh…

1
A LURA LURA Laughs 1:04:59

1y ago1:04:59

1:04:59

Whilst in London this week Sam Stafford recorded an end-of-month ramblechat with Ben Castell, Catriona Riddell, Gilian Macinnes and Nicola Gooch. The conversation takes in all manner of things, including the Levelling Up & Regeneration Act, news of which broke during the recording. They talk about the two part documentary 'Britain's Housing Crisis:…

1
Planning is Brilliant 47:24

1y ago47:24

47:24

A few months ago old friend of the podcast Rebecca Coley, Head of Planning & Development at Trafford Council, messaged Sam Stafford suggesting a 50 Shades episode on “the hidden work of LPAs that slows everything down, e.g. political pressure to investigate particular enforcement cases, the endless complaints that are actually neighbour disputes, F…

1
Our World is Local with Cllr Tim Oliver 34:57

1y ago34:57

34:57

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 respo…

1
Labour Party Conference Dispatch Special 6:57

1y ago6:57

6:57

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…

1
A conversation with Ben Everitt 50:30

1y ago50:30

50:30

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Housing Market & Housing Delivery is a cross-party group of MPs and Peers dedicated to improving the UK housing market. It has published a report called ‘Hacking housing: nine supply side hacks to fix our housing system error’ (link below) and the recommendations include changing the narrative around new de…

1
Conservative Party Conference Dispatch Special 4:20

1y ago4:20

4:20

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: Be…

1
The Mortar Bombs of Division 50:02

1y ago50:02

50:02

Sam Stafford had planned more of a ramble-type chat with Pete Swift, Jonathan Easton and Claire Petricca-Riding, but, reflective of the news that has dominated the agenda of late, their conversation, recorded online, focuses on planning for the environment and specifically nutrient neutrality and net zero. They talk less about the nuts and bolts, p…

1
Liberal Democrat Conference Dispatch Special 6:18

1y ago6:18

6:18

This episode is the first in a series of on-location special dispatches from the party conferences. In Bournemouth this weekend (22/09-26/09) Cratus spoke to key decision-makers as the Liberal Democrats determined some key policies in what could possibly be their last conference before the General Election. Account Manager Charlie Murphy spoke to t…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Cratus Group Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide

zproxy.org