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?

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.

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.