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The Star Chamber

Michael Clifford and Marcus Richards

Join Michael Clifford and Marcus Richards – alongside leading voices from across the sector – for insightful, engaging and occasionally irreverent conversations about the world of local government.

Each episode takes you beyond the headlines: unpacking the latest developments shaping the sector, taking a deeper look at the big policy and delivery challenges facing places and public services, and exploring the fascinating history, quirks and idiosyncrasies of local government along the way.

From devolution and local government finance to social care, regeneration and the changing relationship between citizen and state, The Star Chamber Podcast brings together informed analysis, expert guests and lively discussion about how local government really works – and where it might be heading next.

Whether you work in the sector, lead it, represent it, or are simply curious about the forces shaping our places and public services, join us for a fresh perspective on the world of local government.

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20 episodes
Avg 39 min
English

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S1 · E20
Tuesday · 44 min
Episode 20: Mayoral Development Corporations (with Nabeel Khan, Oxford Street Development Corporation)
Episode 20 sees Michael Clifford and Marcus Richards joined by Nabeel Khan, Chief Executive of the Oxford Street Development Corporation, to explore the past, present and future of Mayoral Development Corporations. We trace the evolution of development corporations and consider why this model is once again becoming an increasingly important tool for delivering growth and regeneration. Nabeel shares the ambition for Oxford Street, how the new Development Corporation intends to respond to changing patterns of retail, leisure and consumer behaviour, and what it will take to attract investment and deliver lasting change in one of the world’s most famous shopping districts. We also cover recent announcements relating to the first steps of fiscal devolution and the overnight visitor levy, as well as the continued fall out of the Fair Funding Review. Do listen as we pose the question: what can the next generation of development corporations teach us about how we need to deliver places differently?
S1 · E19
September 13 · 40 min
Episode 19: Can We Finally Fix Social Care (with Rashpal Bishop, ADASS and Sali Miftari, EY Parthenon)
In this episode of The Star Chamber Podcast, we are joined by Rashpal Bishop, Vice President of ADASS and Executive Director of Adult Social Care & Health at Sandwell Council and Sali Miftari of EY Parthenon, to take a deep dive into one of the most enduring challenges facing public services: the future of adult social care. We explore what meaningful social care reform might actually look like, the challenges facing the sector and its workforce, and what needs to change if decades of debate are finally to translate into sustainable reform. Before that, we turn to the latest developments across local government, including party conference season and the Government’s latest decisions on Local Government Reorganisation. And in this episode’s idiosyncrasy, we explore the Cobra Effect; what a possibly apocryphal tale from colonial Delhi can teach us about perverse incentives, unintended consequences and the occasionally surprising results of public policy.
S1 · E18
July 21 · 37 min
Episode 18: Public Finance Live Special (with Iain Murray - Director of Public Financial Management, CIPFA)
In this special episode, Michael and Marcus are joined by Iain Murray, CIPFA’s Director of Public Financial Management, recorded just post a busy few days at Public Finance Live 2026. Together, they reflect on the key themes emerging from this year’s conference, from the challenges facing local government finance to the opportunities presented by a rapidly changing profession. They discuss Matthew Syed’s thought-provoking keynote on growth mindset, the increasing importance of leadership and adaptability, and how the role of the Section 151 Officer is evolving beyond financial stewardship into a broader strategic leadership position.
S1 · E17
July 9 · 40 min
Episode 17: Devolution; from Beveridge to Burnham
In this episode, Marcus and Michael continue their focus on issues and trends impacting the local government sector, including rising local government debt levels, the Government’s plans for Mayoral Development Zones, and what the Makerfield by-election may signal for the UK’s changing political landscape. They then turn their attention to one of the defining reforms of modern local government: devolution. The discussion explores how powers are shifting away from Whitehall, what successful devolution looks like in practice, and the opportunities, and challenges, it presents for places across England. In true Star Chamber fashion, the episode concludes with an historical detour into the origins of the modern welfare state. Marcus and Michael revisit the Beveridge Report, the famous Five Giants, and the ideas that continue to shape public services more than eighty years later.
S1 · E16
June 10 · 46 min
Episode 16: From Cinque Ports to Freeports (with Stuart Rimmer and Alison Young, Thames Freeport)
In this episode, Marcus and Michael are joined by Stuart Rimmer and Alison Young from Thames Freeport for a wide-ranging discussion on one of the UK’s most significant economic growth initiatives. The conversation explores the role of Freeports in driving investment, trade, innovation and regeneration, and examines how Thames Freeport is seeking to create long-term economic value across one of the country’s most important industrial and logistics corridors. Alongside a deep dive into the Freeports agenda, the episode also reflects on the aftermath of the recent local elections, considering what the results may mean for local government leadership, devolution, economic growth and place-based investment. The episode concludes with an idiosyncratic journey into the history of the Cinque Ports, exploring what a medieval network of coastal towns can still teach us about trade, governance and economic power today.
S1 · E15
May 29 · 35 min
Episode 15: UKREiiF Special (with Nathan Spencer - Managing Director, UKREiiF)
In this special episode, Michael and I are joined by Nathan Spencer, Managing Director of UKREiiF, for a discussion recorded live at the UK’s Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum in Leeds. Together, we explore how UKREiiF has evolved into one of the key gathering points for conversations around investment, regeneration, infrastructure and place leadership, and what this says about the changing priorities of local government and the wider market. The discussion covers: The dominant themes emerging from UKREiiF 2026 Investor appetite versus delivery reality The growing importance of infrastructure, energy and digital capacity The emerging focus on AI, data centres and digitally-enabled places The increasing prominence of social infrastructure, including housing, health and stadium-led regeneration A look ahead at what themes may shape UKREiiF 2027 The episode also explores what makes places genuinely investible in today’s market, from political leadership and governance, to certainty, delivery capability and long-term vision. We’re grateful to Nathan for taking the time to join us during what is undoubtedly one of the busiest weeks in the sector calendar. We’re already looking forward to next year’s gathering.
S1 · E14
May 18 · 40 min
Episode 14: The Polls and The Plague (with Paul Harrison, ex Press Secretary to the Prime Minister)
This week, Marcus and Michael are joined by special guest Paul Harrison, former adviser to the Prime Minister and now of Lexington Communications, for a deep dive into the 2026 local election results and what they really mean for local government. Drawing on his experience operating at the heart of Government in Number 10, Paul explores: • The changing political landscape across English councils • What the results may signal for devolution, LGR and local leadership • The relationship between central and local government, and the potential implications of looming by-elections Alongside the elections discussion, the episode also covers: • The NAO’s new productivity-focused work • The House of Lords review into devolution • And, in true Star Chamber fashion, an idiosyncratic journey into the surprising links between council tax… and the bubonic plague A wide-ranging conversation on politics, policy and the future direction of local government.
S1 · E13
April 15 · 35 min
Episode 13: Hear Ye, Hear Ye…. AI is Coming!
In this episode of The Star Chamber Podcast, Marcus and Michael reflect on the latest developments shaping local government. Along with an overview on key news topics ranging from New Towns to Best Value Commissioners, their deep dive explores the rise of AI Growth Zones — what they are, why they’re being proposed, and what they mean for local authorities. From the energy and infrastructure constraints of data centres, to questions of local benefit and incentive, they consider whether councils are positioned to lead the next wave of digital infrastructure. Finally, in their idiosyncrasy, you’ll find out why Michael opted for recording in a tricorn hat.
S1 · E12
March 13 · 23 min
Episode 12: MIPIM Special
In this special episode of The Star Chamber Podcast, Marcus and Michael record live from MIPIM in Cannes, the global gathering of investors, developers and cities shaping the future of the built environment. They reflect on the history and significance of MIPIM, and how it has become a key forum where local government, private capital and global investors come together around place-based regeneration and development. The conversation explores the increasingly important role local authorities play in place investment, regeneration and infrastructure delivery, and how councils are demonstrating ambition in bringing forward major projects that shape the future of their places.
S1 · E11
March 6 · 49 min
Episode 11: Economic Growth and the Town Hall (with Peter Arnold, EY)
In this episode of The Star Chamber Podcast, Marcus and Michael are joined by Peter Arnold, EY’s UK Chief Economist, for a discussion on the relationship between local government and economic growth. They reflect on recent developments across the sector, including the Government’s latest announcements on SEND reform, the expanding use of Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) for councils, and the economic context set by the Spring Statement. Their deep dive explores the relationship between local government and economic growth — historically, today, and in the future. From Victorian municipal infrastructure to modern regeneration and place leadership, we consider how councils influence economic activity, the incentives built into the current finance system, and whether the fiscal model genuinely rewards authorities for promoting growth. Finally, their idiosyncrasy turns to the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, the landmark reform that reshaped local governance in Britain — sweeping away closed municipal elites and laying the foundations for modern elected councils.
S1 · E10
February 9 · 43 min
Episode 10: From Disney to Dairy Milk: What Corporate Mergers Teach Us About Local Government Reorganisation
What do Disney, Dairy Milk, and the credit crunch have to do with local government reorganisation? In this episode of The Star Chamber Podcast, Michael and Marcus turn to the world of corporate mergers and acquisitions to explore what local government can learn from some of the most high-profile deals in recent history, examining why some created lasting value while others fell short. From culture and leadership to integration and strategic clarity, they consider how these lessons apply as Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) moves back up the policy agenda. The conversation also reflects on the political volatility currently shaping the sector, including uncertainty around elections, alongside insights from recent publications such as CIPFA’s Financial Resilience Index and EY’s S151 Confidence Barometer, both of which paint a revealing picture of resilience, pressure and preparedness across local authorities. Finally, we explore the practical implications of reorganisation through the lens of wards, electoral boundaries and democratic representation, and why these structural details matter just as much as financial sustainability when reshaping the architecture of local government.
S1 · E9
January 19 · 44 min
Episode 9: Productivity, Innovation and Commerciality - the year ahead in Local Government (with Amanda Evans, EY)
In this episode of The Star Chamber Podcast, Marcus and Michael are joined by Amanda Evans, EY’s global Government and Infrastructure Strategy and Transactions lead, for a forward-looking conversation on what the year ahead holds for local government. We begin by surveying the landscape for 2026, from anticipated policy reforms and structural change to the political developments likely to shape the sector, and consider the big strategic choices facing councils as they look ahead. Our deep dive explores the enduring challenge of “doing more with less.” Through the lenses of productivity, innovation and commerciality, we discuss how councils are rethinking service delivery, making better use of data and technology, developing new partnerships, and deploying their assets and balance sheets more strategically. Finally, in our idiosyncrasy, we turn to the curious and often overlooked world of town twinning, and how these relationships have linked communities, and local governments, across the UK, Australia and towns across the world for decades, offering a revealing lens on the international connections of municipal life.
S1 · E8
Dec 13, 2025 · 39 min
Episode 8: The Christmas Special – Geese, Ghosts and Governance
In our festive edition of the Star Chamber Podcast, Michael and Marcus explore the Chancellor’s Budget, considering whether it maintains the spirit of devolution, or whether it delivers something more centralistic. We then take to time to reflect on the year of 2025 for the local government sector – a year in which councils have faced extraordinary pressures, profound uncertainty and yet remarkable resilience. From SEND, LGR and EFS to new ministers, new towns and new financial realities, we reflect on the defining themes that shaped the sector. And we indulge in a Christmas set of idiosyncrasies, from grand mayoral dinners, municipal Christmas trees and Christmas lights, and conclude with a Christmas ghost story which answers the curious question – why doesn’t the Leeds Town Hall clock chime at midnight?
S1 · E7
Nov 6, 2025 · 45 min
Episode 7: From Firefighting to Financial Sustainability (with Owen Mapley, CIPFA)
In this episode of The Star Chamber Podcast, Marcus and Michael are joined by Owen Mapley, Chief Executive of CIPFA, to explore one of the defining questions facing local government today: how do we shift from short-term firefighting to long-term financial sustainability? We begin with the latest sector headlines — from the latest analysis on Exceptional Financial Support and implications of the delay to SEND reform, to expectations ahead of the upcoming Budget. With limited fiscal headroom and rising pressures in areas such as social care and homelessness, we consider what the Budget may mean for local authorities and the wider reform agenda. Our deep dive looks at the structural challenges shaping local government finance – the implications of constant firefighting and how authorities are responding to move towards longer term financial sustainability. Owen shares insights on the role of CIPFA’s standards and frameworks in supporting that shift, and the aspects of what a reformed, sustainable funding model could look like in practice. Finally, our idiosyncrasy takes us back to the People’s Budget of 1909 — a moment when fiscal policy became a moral battle over the future of the welfare state. With Churchill declaring it a “war Budget” against poverty and squalor, we explore how the tensions of that era, reform vs tradition, redistribution vs restraint, still echo today.
S1 · E6
Oct 13, 2025 · 37 min
Episode 6: Power, Ports and Productivity
In this episode, Marcus and Michael take a tour through some of the biggest issues shaping local government today. We reflect on the recent ministerial appointments of Steve Reed, Matthew Pennycook and Alison McGovern, and what their arrival at MHCLG might signal for the sector. We also cover the New Towns Taskforce report — its objectives, the principles underpinning it, and the delivery and cost challenges it presents. We then turn to the enduring productivity puzzle: why productivity in local government matters, its chequered history from Compulsory Competitive Tendering through to Michael Gove’s “productivity plans,” and the difficulties of applying traditional measures to complex, people-focused services. Finally, we round things off with an exploration of trust ports — the curious, independent harbour authorities that play a surprisingly important role in UK trade.
S1 · E5
Sep 12, 2025 · 39 min
Episode 5: The Net Zero Puzzle: Funding, Fragmentation and the Road to 2050 (with Amardeep Gill, Trowers and Hamlins)
In Episode 5 of The Star Chamber Podcast, Michael Clifford and Marcus Richards are joined by Amardeep Gill of Trowers & Hamlins to unpack local government’s role in delivering the UK’s net zero ambitions. We explore the statutory context, the fragmented and short-term funding landscape, and the legal and financial complexities councils face in turning plans into projects. International lessons — from Nordic municipal energy networks to German KfW lending — bring fresh perspective to the debate on whether net zero should be treated as a core local responsibility. We also take stock of the latest news, from the government’s reorganisation plans to Reform’s focus on Local Government pensions. And, as always, we close with an idiosyncratic dive into local government’s past — from the Saxon origins of council tax used to pay off murderous Vikings, to the peculiarities of how MPs are permitted to resign.
S1 · E4
Aug 14, 2025 · 30 min
Episode 4: Power, Pounds and Place - and the origins of the Silken Rope
In Episode 4 of The Star Chamber Podcast, we dive deep into the evolving architecture of English localism. We begin with the new Devolution and Community Engagement Bill, unpacking its implications for devolution and ambition across regions. We then interrogate the long-awaited Fair Funding Review – asking whether authorities will see it as a momentous milestone, bringing funding certainty and clarity, or as a shift that risks undermining resilience. Our deep dive this month focuses on fiscal devolution, revisiting the radical recommendations of the Layfield Committee and exploring global models – from land value tax in Germany to local income taxes in the Nordics. Finally, we turn to Development Corporations – tracing their post-war roots, the blueprint they set for new towns today, and how they manifested the “silken rope.”
S1 · E3
Jul 15, 2025 · 42 min
Episode 3: Infrastructure, Industry, Investment – and the Curious Matter of Earl Grey (with Peter Arnold, EY)
In this episode of The Star Chamber Podcast, we unpack the recent flurry of government announcements – the Spending Review, the Industrial Strategy, and the UK Infrastructure Strategy – and explore what they really mean for local government. We discuss how authorities can respond to these evolving agendas to unlock investment, attract private capital, and drive long-term, place-based growth. We’re also joined by our first guest, Peter Arnold, EY’s Chief Economist, who shares his insights on the economic forces shaping national policy and local opportunity. And, in true Star Chamber fashion, we close with a historical turn – tracing how the French Revolution, Earl Grey, and the Great Reform Act helped shape the foundations of the local government system we know today.
S1 · E2
Jun 4, 2025 · 37 min
Episode 2: Banners, Boroughs and Business Rates: Power, Politics and Property from the Tudors to Today
In this episode of The Star Chamber Podcast, we unpack the fallout from the recent local elections before tackling the potential moral hazard of central government interventions in local authority debt. We then head north to UKREiiF to explore placemaking, investment, and how these themes tie into the evolving role of Combined Authorities - including a trip through time to Margaret Thatcher’s abolition of the GLC and her clashes with Ken Livingstone (and his infamous banners), a story that foreshadows today’s devolution arrangements. We round things off with a dive into the Tudor origins of business rates. It’s all connected - politics, property, and the persistent tug-of-war over who holds power.
S1 · E1
May 8, 2025 · 29 min
Episode 1: The Medieval Origins of The Star Chamber, Exceptional Financial Support and The History of Local Government Reorganisation in London
Join Michael Clifford and Marcus Richards for a series of discussions on the world of local government! In their first episode, they talk about the medieval origins of the term Star Chamber, how Liverpool in the 1980s shaped the concept of Exceptional Financial Support and what mountaineers have to do with Local Government Reorganisation.

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