3 minutes reading time
(524 words)
Whose Side Are Councillors On? Residents, Developers or Themselves?
Cladding Matters – Friday 20th June at 1pm
Whose Side Are Councillors On? Residents, Developers or Themselves?
This Friday at 1pm, Cladding Matters returns with a conversation that cuts to the heart of the current cladding and remediation deadlock: where does local leadership truly stand when lives and livelihoods are caught in the balance?
Joining Gareth Wax in the chair are two guests with very different, yet deeply connected experiences. Stephen Day, a long-standing resident of Royal Artillery Quays (RAQ), brings the direct perspective of someone still living with the consequences of failed safety systems and bureaucratic inertia. Alongside him is Chris Lloyd, former Liberal Democrat councillor for West Thamesmead, who understands the internal workings of local government and the difficult realities of representing a ward in flux.
Between them, we’ll be trying to understand what accountability really looks like when remediation plans stall, timelines drift, and trust wears thin. Are decisions being made in the interests of residents? Are developers being let off too lightly? And how are internal council priorities affecting outcomes for those most affected?
It's a conversation that refuses to hide behind jargon. This week’s episode focuses on the lived experience, the political frameworks, and the grey space in between - where good intentions sometimes give way to unclear responsibilities, shifting priorities, or just plain silence.
We’ll also be reflecting on the broader implications for democracy. If elected representatives can’t influence the outcomes that matter most to their constituents, what is the role of local government in this crisis? And how can the system evolve to better support those caught in its crosshairs?
Too often, we hear of councils passing blame upwards to regulators or sideways to leaseholders, all while delays continue and residents wait. This week's podcast asks what meaningful leadership looks like – and how elected officials can still choose to step up, even when the system feels stacked against progress.
This week’s episode doesn’t pretend there are simple answers. Instead, it’s about laying bare the tensions. Local authorities often argue their hands are tied, yet some councils have taken bold, clear stances – issuing enforcement notices, pushing developers, and standing visibly with residents. Others seem to have disappeared from view.
Meanwhile, Chris brings years of experience from inside the council chamber. As a former ward councillor, he’s seen firsthand the competing pressures councils face – limited budgets, overlapping responsibilities, and often contradictory government guidance. Yet what happens when those pressures become excuses for inaction? And how can residents tell whether a councillor is genuinely working for them or deflecting responsibility?
Join us live at 1pm on Friday 20th June for this important and open conversation. Whether you're a leaseholder, campaigner, property professional or just someone concerned about housing and fairness – this episode offers a timely and grounded look at the challenges we’re all facing.
You can catch the recording afterwards on LinkedIn, YouTube or wherever you usually find us.
PS:
For content enquiries:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For podcast/media info:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Whose Side Are Councillors On? Residents, Developers or Themselves?
This Friday at 1pm, Cladding Matters returns with a conversation that cuts to the heart of the current cladding and remediation deadlock: where does local leadership truly stand when lives and livelihoods are caught in the balance?
Joining Gareth Wax in the chair are two guests with very different, yet deeply connected experiences. Stephen Day, a long-standing resident of Royal Artillery Quays (RAQ), brings the direct perspective of someone still living with the consequences of failed safety systems and bureaucratic inertia. Alongside him is Chris Lloyd, former Liberal Democrat councillor for West Thamesmead, who understands the internal workings of local government and the difficult realities of representing a ward in flux.
Between them, we’ll be trying to understand what accountability really looks like when remediation plans stall, timelines drift, and trust wears thin. Are decisions being made in the interests of residents? Are developers being let off too lightly? And how are internal council priorities affecting outcomes for those most affected?
It's a conversation that refuses to hide behind jargon. This week’s episode focuses on the lived experience, the political frameworks, and the grey space in between - where good intentions sometimes give way to unclear responsibilities, shifting priorities, or just plain silence.
We’ll also be reflecting on the broader implications for democracy. If elected representatives can’t influence the outcomes that matter most to their constituents, what is the role of local government in this crisis? And how can the system evolve to better support those caught in its crosshairs?
Too often, we hear of councils passing blame upwards to regulators or sideways to leaseholders, all while delays continue and residents wait. This week's podcast asks what meaningful leadership looks like – and how elected officials can still choose to step up, even when the system feels stacked against progress.
This week’s episode doesn’t pretend there are simple answers. Instead, it’s about laying bare the tensions. Local authorities often argue their hands are tied, yet some councils have taken bold, clear stances – issuing enforcement notices, pushing developers, and standing visibly with residents. Others seem to have disappeared from view.
Meanwhile, Chris brings years of experience from inside the council chamber. As a former ward councillor, he’s seen firsthand the competing pressures councils face – limited budgets, overlapping responsibilities, and often contradictory government guidance. Yet what happens when those pressures become excuses for inaction? And how can residents tell whether a councillor is genuinely working for them or deflecting responsibility?
Join us live at 1pm on Friday 20th June for this important and open conversation. Whether you're a leaseholder, campaigner, property professional or just someone concerned about housing and fairness – this episode offers a timely and grounded look at the challenges we’re all facing.
You can catch the recording afterwards on LinkedIn, YouTube or wherever you usually find us.
PS:
For content enquiries:
For podcast/media info:
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