Session
With one in four local authorities facing a financial crisis in the next five years, the question looms: could devolution offer a lifeline? Will greater autonomy and resources from devolution help parish and town councils tackle funding challenges and maintain essential services, or could it deepen inequalities among councils with different levels of power? In this session, we'll explore whether devolution can bridge financial gaps, empower councils to meet local needs and provide new tools for resilience. Gain essential insights and strategies that could shape the future of local government in challenging times.
Helen Ball began her career in 1997, working part-time for a small East Yorkshire parish council. In 1999, she became a clerk for Beverley Town Council, one of the first councils created by referendum under the Local Government and Rating Act 1997. She later earned a first-class local policy degree from Gloucestershire University in 2007. In 2009, Helen became clerk for Shrewsbury Town Council, overseeing a large council with around 72,000 residents and a £4 million budget. Active in various boards and partnerships, Helen is also the vice-chair of the Society of Local Council Clerks.
Philip Clifford leads the Local Government Association's (LGA) policy work on devolution and place-based growth. His work at the LGA has recently focused on urban and rural recovery, sustainable development, devolution, and constitutional reform. For much of his professional career, Philip has worked on local leadership, regeneration, and public service transformation issues. Before joining the LGA, he was part of the government’s London Thames Gateway Development Corporation. He worked with partners across London's local government on various issues, including housing investment, migration, welfare reform and devolution.
Dr Jonathan Carr-West leads on all aspects of the think tank’s policy, membership and influencing work. With over 15 years of experience, Jonathan is a leading national expert on local government transformation, local democracy, and public services. Some of his particular interests are participative democracy, the evolving nature of public services, and devolution. With an extensive media profile and sector credibility, he has published on topics as diverse as localism and public service transformation, cognitive and behavioural science, and the politics of cultural memory.
