The LGA is run by its members, for its members.
The LGA is a politically led, cross-party membership organisation, representing local authorities across England and Wales.
Its membership includes: almost all English councils; local fire and rescue authorities; the 22 Welsh councils in corporate membership through the Welsh LGA; national parks authorities; and parish and town councils via corporate membership with the National Association of Local Councils.
It is run by its members for its members, with councillors setting priorities, providing strategic direction, and shaping policy positions.
The LGA has four political group offices – Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and Independent – and, wherever possible, works on the basis of consensus across all four groups.
Each year, the LGA’s political leadership structures are populated by the groups, according to the organisation’s political balance – defined by the outcome of the English and Welsh local elections each May.
With the LGA’s political year starting on 1 September, the new executive and policy boards for 2022/23 (see below) have been established, and have started meeting to address the issues that are facing local government – not least, the current cost-of-living crisis and the associated cost pressures on councils and their residents. Together, the chair, vice-chairs and deputy chairs form the LGA Board, and direct the LGA’s activities, business and strategic priorities.
The board members, chairs of the LGA’s policy boards, representatives of Wales and the nine English regions, plus some other members form the LGA’s Executive Advisory Board. It plays a coordinating role, providing strategic direction to the association’s work through the business planning process. It also advises the LGA Board and holds the policy boards to account.
See below for an introduction to the LGA’s lead members.
To find out more, including the full membership of each board and previous and forthcoming meetings, please see www.local.gov.uk/about
Board of Directors (LGA Board)
Cllr James Jamieson OBE (Con, Central Bedfordshire) was elected Chairman of the LGA in July 2019 and was previously Leader of the LGA’s Conservative Group from July 2018. He was first elected to Central Bedfordshire Council in 2009 and led the authority from 2011 to January 2021.
Cllr Shaun Davies (Lab, Telford & Wrekin) is the LGA’s Senior Vice-Chair and became Leader of the LGA’s Labour Group in 2022. He has led Telford & Wrekin Council since 2016 and was formerly Chair of the LGA’s Resources Board.
Cllr Izzi Seccombe OBE (Con, Warwickshire) was elected Leader of the LGA’s Conservative Group and became an LGA Vice-Chairman in July 2019. She was elected to Warwickshire County Council in 2001 and became its first female Leader in 2013.
Cllr Joe Harris (Lib Dem, Cotswold) was elected Leader of the LGA Liberal Democrat Group and Vice-Chair of the LGA in July 2021. He was first elected to Cotswold District Council in 2011, aged 18, and has led it since 2019. He is also a member of Gloucestershire County Council.
Cllr Marianne Overton MBE (Ind, Lincolnshire) is an LGA Vice-Chair and has been Leader of the LGA’s Independent Group since 2011. She is Leader of the Lincolnshire Independents, Leader of the Opposition on North Kesteven District Council and sits on Lincolnshire County Council.
Cllr Robert Alden (Con, Birmingham) is a Deputy Chairman of the LGA. First elected in 2006, he is Leader of the Conservative Group on Birmingham City Council.
Cllr John Fuller OBE (Con, South Norfolk) is an LGA Deputy Chairman, Leader of South Norfolk District Council, and a former Chairman of the District Councils’ Network.
Cllr Teresa O’Neill OBE (Con, Bexley) was first elected to the London Borough of Bexley in 1998 and became its Leader in 2008. She is an LGA Deputy Chairman.
councillor.teresa.o’[email protected]
Cllr Anntoinette Bramble (Lab, Hackney), an LGA Deputy Chair, is the Equalities Advocate for the LGA’s Executive Advisory Board, and Deputy Mayor at Hackney Council.
Cllr Tudor Evans OBE (Lab, Plymouth) has served as a councillor continuously since 1988, is Leader of the Opposition at Plymouth City Council, and a Deputy Chair of the LGA.
Cllr Georgia Gould (Lab, Camden),
a councillor since 2010, is an LGA Deputy Chair, Leader of Camden Council, and Chair of London Councils. Cllr Gould is also the regional representative for London on the LGA’s Executive Advisory Board.
Cllr Michael Payne (Lab, Gedling) is an LGA Deputy Chair, Deputy Leader of Gedling Borough Council, and a member of Nottinghamshire County Council.
Cllr Bridget Smith (Lib Dem, South Cambridgeshire), an LGA Deputy Chair, is Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council and a lead member on the Peterborough and Cambridgeshire Combined Authority.
Cllr Hannah Dalton (Residents’ Association, Epsom and Ewell) is Vice-Chair of Epsom and Ewell Borough Council’s Strategy and Resources Committee, and an LGA Deputy Chair.
Other Executive Advisory Board members
Cllr Kevin Bentley (Con, Essex) is Chairman of the LGA’s People and Places Board. First elected to Essex County Council in 2009, he became its Leader in May 2021.
Cllr Abi Brown (Con, Stoke) is the new Chair of the LGA’s Improvement and Innovation Board. First elected in 2010, she has been Leader of City of Stoke-on-Trent Council since 2019.
Cllr David Fothergill (Con, Somerset) is Leader of the Opposition at Somerset County Council and became Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board in May 2021.
Cllr David Renard (Con, Swindon) is Chairman of the LGA’s Environment, Economy, Housing and Transport Board. He has been Leader of Swindon Council since 2013.
Cllr Nesil Caliskan (Lab, Enfield) is Chair of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board. Elected in 2015, she became Enfield’s first woman leader in 2018, aged 29.
Cllr Louise Gittins (Lab, Cheshire West and Chester) is the new Chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board. She was first elected in 2011 and became Leader of Cheshire West and Chester in 2019.
Mayor Marvin Rees (Lab, Bristol) is Chair of the LGA’s City Regions Board. In 2016, he was the first mayor of black African heritage to be elected by a major European city.
Cllr Andrew Western (Lab, Trafford) is the new Chair of the LGA’s Resources Board. He has been Leader of Trafford Council since 2018, having been first elected in 2011.
Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson CBE
(Lib Dem, Portsmouth) is Chair of the LGA’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board and Leader of Portsmouth City Council. He has been a councillor since 2003.
Cllr Paul Woodhead (Ind, Cannock Chase) is a Balancing Member on the LGA’s Executive Advisory Board. He is Leader of the Chase Community Independents and Green Group.
Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen (Con, Breckland) is Chairman of the District Councils’ Network and has been Leader of Breckland Council since 2019.
Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton CBE (Lab, Barnsley) is Leader of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council and Chair of the LGA’s Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities.
Cllr Tim Oliver (Con, Surrey) is Chairman of the County Councils Network, Leader of Surrey County Council, and a former Leader of Elmbridge Borough Council.
Alderman Sir David Wootton (Ind, City of London) is Chairman of Local Partnerships and a member of the City of London Corporation.
Wales and regional
Cllr Ralph Bagge (Con, South Bucks) is a regional representative substitute on the LGA Executive. He is Chairman of Buckinghamshire Council’s Finance and Resources Select Committee.
Cllr Marc Bayliss (Con, Worcester) is Leader of Worcester City Council and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills at Worcestershire County Council. He represents the West Midlands.
Cllr John Hart (Con, Devon) was first elected in 1989 and has been Leader of Devon County Council since 2009. He is Chairman of South West Councils.
Cllr Nicolas Heslop (Con, Tonbridge and Malling) is Chair of South East Councils and a former Leader of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council.
Cllr Matthew Hicks (Con, Suffolk) is the regional representative for the East of England. He is Chairman of the East of England LGA and has been Leader of Suffolk County Council since 2018.
Cllr Christopher Poulter (Con, Derby) represents East Midlands Councils. He was first elected to Derby City Council in 2006 and has been Leader since 2018.
Cllr David Baines (Lab, St Helens) represents the North West on the LGA’s Executive Advisory Board. He has been Leader of St Helens Borough Council since 2019. [email protected]
Cllr Graeme Miller (Lab, Sunderland) is the regional representative for the North East. First elected in 2006, he has been Leader of Sunderland City Council since 2018.
Cllr Rob Stewart (Lab, Swansea) represents Wales on the LGA’s Executive Advisory Board. He is Deputy Leader of the Welsh LGA and has led the City and County of Swansea since 2014.
The LGA’s political year runs from September to the following July. You can find out more about the LGA’s lead members, our governance arrangements, and policy and executive meetings by visiting www.local.gov.uk/about/our-meetings-and-leadership
