In this episode recorded live at UKREiiF, Simon Gartshore, Deputy Managing Director at Kanda Consulting, sits down with Tom Sleigh, recently reelected as Chair of the City of London Corporation's Planning and Transportation Committee.

Tom reflects on his first year — including a record breaking number of applications — and shares his views on the pace of national planning reform, the near-final stages of the City Plan, and the challenge of balancing growth with heritage in the Square Mile.

The conversation also covers stalled development sites, the role of culture in Destination City, the arrival of AI in planning practice, and what a reduced planning committee will mean for decision-making in one of the world's most important business districts.

• Labour losing overall control of Cambridge City Council
• The Green Party’s breakthrough gains in Cambridge
• The Liberal Democrats’ near-clean sweep in South Cambridgeshire
• Huntingdonshire’s next rainbow coalition
• The future structure of local government across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

• Whether the levy can operate as a genuine growth tool
• The importance of governance, transparency and ringfencing
• The impact on competitiveness and the visitor economy
• Lessons from international examples
• The role of BIDs in shaping and delivering place-based funding

In the latest episode of Concilio’s Better Places podcast, Concilio’s Nick Dines and Sehj Kaur sit down with Jessica Tarlov, one of the most influential Democratic voices in the United States, for a conversation on the changing shape of left-wing politics.

The discussion centres on the rise of Zohran Mamdani, whose victory in New York has captured attention far beyond the US. From campaign energy and digital strategy to in-person organising and message discipline, Jessica explains why Mamdani broke through and why his relentless focus on affordability cut across traditional political divides.

Drawing on her experience as a New Yorker and political insider, Jessica explores how issues such as housing costs and student debt are reshaping electoral coalitions. The conversation also looks at what UK politicians, particularly in cities like London, may be able to learn from this moment, and where direct comparisons fall short.

The episode explores why voters are turning away from the status quo and focusing more on everyday economic issues.

1. Time-limited planning route that enables developers to secure planning permission for schemes on private land that provides at least 20% affordable without requiring an upfront viability assessment. This will qualify for Fast Track and be eligible for grant.
2. Temporary relief from the Community Infrastructure Levy, covering 50% of the borough CIL charge for schemes delivering at least 20% affordable.
3. Adjusting London Plan design guidance on dual aspect requirements, dwellings per core and cycle storage provision.
4. Enhanced Mayoral planning powers, giving the Mayor the authority over 50 unit schemes, the ability to call in 1,000 sqm Green Belt and MOL and allow written rep call ins.
5. An initial £322m allocation to establish a City Hall Developer Investment Fund

• Existing planning permission that is unimplemented or is a phased consent
• Application approved by Committee yet does not have the Section 106 signed
• An application that has been submitted but has not been determined
• An application not yet submitted