This week’s Kent Politics Podcast welcomes Canterbury City Council leader Alan Baldock.

He speaks about his life in the Labour Party and how local government needs a fresh approach in its relationship with Whitehall.

He says “14 years of Tory austerity” have hallowed out the finances of councils, a problem which will take years to fix.

According to him, current funding arrangements need to be scrapped in favour of local authorities being given backing to plan “five or 10 years ahead”.

The councillor also talks about the scrapping of controversial plans to divide Canterbury into different traffic zones after a public backlash.

The episode also sees our reporters discuss the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner election, how Medway needs £50m to sort its potholes, and how Whitstable residents aren’t keen on getting their own town council.

We’ll also have the weekly Westminster Watch round-up from political editor Paul Francis.

The podcast, which launched in January, brings together local democracy reporters, Simon Finlay, Robert Boddy and Dan Esson.

Simon covers Kent County Council while Robert reports on Medway Council and Dan specialises in borough and district councils.

Next week we’ll be joined by Maidstone council’s Green Party leader Cllr Stuart Jeffery.

You can listen to the podcast at IM Listening, or download it from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and TuneIn – just search for Kent Politics Podcast.

New episodes are available each Friday.

The podcast is the latest move to increase KentOnline’s political coverage ahead of a general election likely to be held later this year.

In recent months we also launched bespoke sections on KentOnline highlighting Kent Politics and Medway Politics.

Added to this is the highly-respected Kent Politics Show which airs on KMTV each Friday evening.