Rethinking local authority governance

GGI partner Aidan Rave has made a guest appearance on the Truth about local government podcast in an episode about how local authorities can build governance systems that are resilient, inclusive, and fit for the future.

Aidan appeared with Peter Ware of Browne Jackson LLP. He said “Governance can be the platform that enables local government to really rethink itself, reinvent itself,” adding: “Governance has to be owned by the leaders of the organisation. It can’t be delegated.”

Aidan urged council to change the perception that governance is viewed through a lens of risk aversion and control, describing it instead as “…the platform that enables local government to really rethink itself, reinvent itself.”

Change is not just structural—it’s deeply personal. People’s roles, identities, and futures are at stake. Rave reminds us that governance is, at its core, a human challenge:

He said: “There will be a perception of winners and losers… This is a human business. These are people that we’re talking about.”

Leaders must approach governance with empathy, transparency, and selflessness, he writes. They must acknowledge fear and uncertainty, and lead with clarity and compassion.

There's a blog about the episode on the Truth about local government website. To listen to the episode, click here.