Episode 10: From Disney to Dairy Milk: What Corporate Mergers Teach Us About Local Government Reorganisation
Podcast: The Star Chamber PodcastPublished On: Mon Feb 09 2026
Description: What do Disney, Dairy Milk, and the credit crunch have to do with local government reorganisation?In this episode of The Star Chamber Podcast, Michael and Marcus turn to the world of corporate mergers and acquisitions to explore what local government can learn from some of the most high-profile deals in recent history, examining why some created lasting value while others fell short. From culture and leadership to integration and strategic clarity, they consider how these lessons apply as Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) moves back up the policy agenda.The conversation also reflects on the political volatility currently shaping the sector, including uncertainty around elections, alongside insights from recent publications such as CIPFA’s Financial Resilience Index and EY’s S151 Confidence Barometer, both of which paint a revealing picture of resilience, pressure and preparedness across local authorities.Finally, we explore the practical implications of reorganisation through the lens of wards, electoral boundaries and democratic representation, and why these structural details matter just as much as financial sustainability when reshaping the architecture of local government.
The note was deleted
The note was saved
Your message was sent