Radical Reformers ep.110: Rob Powell, Warwickshire County Council and Nina Philippidis, Gloucestershire County Council

Local government finance is facing pressures unlike anything we’ve seen before - but with the right leadership, there are also opportunities to reimagine how local government functions and the role it plays. 

In this episode, I welcome two exceptional local government finance leaders, Rob Powell, Executive Director for Resources, Warwickshire County Council and Nina Philippidis, Executive Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive, Gloucestershire County Council.

Nina and Rob share powerful insights about what it's really like to lead and make tough decisions in local government against a backdrop of frequently changing policy and ever-tightening budgets.

Here’s a taste of what they cover:

• Multi-year settlements: Do they truly change how councils plan, or is the ultimate impact more limited?

• Thinking beyond the organisation: Why leading for a place rather than for a council is essential.

• Investing to save: How finance directors balance short-term pressures with the long-term need for prevention and innovation.

• Local Government Reorganisation: The big opportunities ahead - from simplifying structures to tackling deep-rooted challenges like health inequality and long-term worklessness.

• Leadership and careers: How local government finance is far more inspiring and impactful than people realise!

  
  

This conversation is packed with honesty, practical wisdom, and forward-thinking optimism about the future of public services.

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