Incremental Creep in Governance – Why It Matters More Than You Think

This special crossover episode features Matt Masters, host of The Truth About Local Government, in conversation with Kirsty Hunt, host of Governance Matters a podcast produced by South East Employers that explores the building blocks of good governance in local government.

In Season 2, Episode 5, Matt interviews Kirsty to unpack the concept of incremental creep the slow, often unnoticed erosion of governance standards in councils. The discussion explores how small compromises in transparency, decision-making, and accountability can accumulate into systemic risk and public distrust.

Kirsty shares six warning signs of incremental creep:

1. Cultural complacency (“That’s how we’ve always done it”)
2. Leadership turnover and loss of institutional memory
3. Weak scrutiny and challenge
4. Over-reliance on individuals
5. Informal decision-making
6. Poor record-keeping

The episode also highlights the importance of:

• Empowering statutory officers (the “Golden Triangle”)
• Councillor induction and development
• External reviews and peer learning
• Resident engagement and democratic health KPIs

“Expose it. Give it nowhere to hide.” – Kirsty Hunt “Is there incremental creep in your governance? And if so, what are you going to do about it?” – Matt Masters

This episode is a must-listen for anyone working in or with local government who wants to strengthen governance before crisis hits.