Elected members provide strategic direction to the LGA
The LGA is a member-led organisation, working by consensus between its four political groups.
The groups appoint councillors to the LGA’s governance structures based on the combined political composition of member local authorities. The largest group nominates the chair.
The current political balance is: Labour, 38.8 per cent; Conservative, 31.4 per cent; Liberal Democrat, 15.5 per cent; Independent, 14.3 per cent.
The LGA’s General Assembly elects its Board of Directors, consisting of the LGA’s chair, senior vice-chair, vice-chairs and deputy chairs.
The LGA Board sets the organisation’s strategic direction in consultation with the Executive Advisory Board (EAB), and ensures that the organisation is properly managed.
The LGA Board forms part of the EAB, along with: the chairs of the LGA’s policy boards; representatives from Wales, the nine English regions, the County Councils Network, District Councils’ Network, and the Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities; and balancing members to make it politically proportionate.
The EAB discusses major cross-cutting and high-profile issues that are of importance to local government, and supports the LGA Board to set the LGA’s strategic priorities. It ensures that the LGA is focused at all times on its member councils and their communities.
The LGA is currently reviewing its governance arrangements, including the roles and remits of the different boards, how current structures work in practice to support the LGA to achieve its objectives, and what support its members need to carry out their governance roles.
A Governance Task and Finish Group, comprising one member from each LGA political group, is leading on this work, with a view to any changes being made in the next LGA governance year, starting September 2025.
LGA EXECUTIVE ADVISORY BOARD – Board of Directors (LGA Board)
Cllr Louise Gittins (Lab, Cheshire West and Chester) has been Chair of the LGA since July 2024. She previously served as Chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board and Deputy Chair of its Community Wellbeing Board. She first became a councillor in 2011, becoming Deputy Leader of Cheshire West and Chester in 2015, and then Leader in 2019.
Cllr Kevin Bentley (Con, Essex) became Senior Vice-Chairman and Leader of the LGA’s Conservative Group in July 2023, having previously chaired the LGA’s People and Places Board. He was elected to Colchester City Council in 2002 and Essex County Council in 2009, and has been Leader of Essex since 2021.
Cllr Bev Craig (Lab, Manchester) became an LGA Vice-Chair and Leader of the LGA’s Labour Group in July 2024, having previously served as an LGA Deputy Chair. She was first elected to Manchester City Council in 2011, and became its first woman and openly gay Leader in 2021.
Cllr Joe Harris (Lib Dem, Cotswold) has been Leader of the LGA Liberal Democrat Group and Vice-Chair of the LGA since July 2021. He was first elected to Cotswold District Council in 2011, aged 18, and has led it since 2019. He has also been a member of Gloucestershire County Council since 2013.
Cllr Marianne Overton MBE (Ind, Lincolnshire) is an LGA Vice-Chair and has been Leader of the LGA’s Independent Group since 2011. She has served on Lincolnshire County Council since 2001, and on North Kesteven District Council since 1995, where she is Leader of the Opposition.
Cllr Peter Mason (Lab, Ealing) is a new LGA Deputy Chair and Leader of the London Borough of Ealing. A trained town planner, he was first elected in 2014, and became Ealing’s Leader in 2021.
Cllr Bella Sankey (Lab, Brighton & Hove) is a new LGA Deputy Chair and Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council. Formerly the director of a national charity, she was first elected in December 2022 and re-elected, then elected as Leader, in May 2023.
Cllr Claire Holland (Lab, Lambeth) is a new LGA Deputy Chair. First elected to Lambeth Council in 2014, she became Leader in 2021, and in July 2024 was elected Chair of London Councils.
Cllr Abi Brown (Con, Stoke) is an LGA Deputy Chairman, Chairman of the Improvement and Innovation Board, and LGA Conservative Group Deputy Leader. First elected in 2010, she was Leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council from 2019 to 2023.
Cllr David Fothergill (Con, Somerset), a former Leader of Somerset County Council, has been Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board since 2021 and is an LGA Deputy Chairman.
Cllr Izzi Seccombe OBE (Con, Warwickshire), elected in 2001, became Warwickshire’s first female Leader in 2013. An LGA Deputy Chairman, she was previously Leader of the LGA’s Conservative Group and Vice-Chairman from July 2019.
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 Amanda Hopgood (Lib Dem, Durham) is Leader of Durham County Council and an LGA Deputy Chair. She is Cabinet Member for Culture, Creative, Tourism and Sport on the North East Combined Authority.
Cllr Caroline Jackson (Ind, Lancaster) is the Green Party Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness at Lancaster City Council, and an LGA Deputy Chair.
Board chairs, interest groups and balancing members
Cllr Adam Hug (Lab, Westminster) is Chair of the LGA’s Local Infrastructure and Net Zero Board, Leader of Westminster City Council, and a former Director of the Foreign Policy Centre thinktank.
Cllr Pete Marland (Lab, Milton Keynes) is Chair of the LGA’s Economy and Resources Board. He has been Leader of Milton Keynes Council since 2014 and on the board of Local Partnerships since 2020.
Cllr Liam Robinson (Lab, Liverpool) is Chair of the LGA’s City Regions Board. First elected in 2008, he has been Leader of Liverpool City Council since 2023 and is Cabinet Member for Innovation on the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
Cllr Arooj Shah (Lab, Oldham) is Chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board and Leader of Oldham Council. A former ‘Young Councillor of the Year’, in 2013, she was the first Muslim woman council leader in the North of England.
Cllr Martin Tett (Con, Buckinghamshire) is Chairman of the LGA’s People and Places Board. He has been Leader of Buckinghamshire Council and its predecessor county council since 2011, having joined the council in 2005.
Cllr Liz Green (Lib Dem, Kingston) is Chair of the LGA’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, and an LGA peer mentor. A former Leader of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, she is currently its Mayor.
Cllr Heather Kidd MBE (Lib Dem, Shropshire) is Chair of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board. Elected in 1996, she is a former Leader of the former South Shropshire District Council and sits on Shropshire Council.
Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton CBE (Lab, Barnsley) was first elected to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council in 1988, becoming Leader in 1996. He has been Chair of the LGA’s Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities since 1999 and an LGA regional peer since 2006.
Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen (Con, Breckland) was initially elected to Breckland Council in 2007 and has been its Leader since 2019. He is Chairman of the District Councils’ Network.
Cllr Tim Oliver OBE (Con, Surrey) is the Leader of Surrey County Council and a former Leader of Elmbridge Borough Council, where he was first elected in 1999. He is Chairman of the County Councils Network.
Cllr Andrew Cooper (Ind, Kirklees) is Group Leader for the Green Party on Kirklees Council, and a balancing member of the Executive Advisory Board.
Cllr Tony Saffell (Ind, North West Leicestershire) is Planning Portfolio Holder at North West Leicestershire District Council, and an EAB balancing member.
Wales and regional
Cllr Anthony Burns (Lab, St Helens) represents the North West. He has been Leader of St Helens Borough Council since May 2024, and is Cabinet Member for Net Zero on Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
Cllr Rob Stewart (Lab, Swansea) represents Wales on the LGA’s Executive Advisory Board. He is Deputy Leader of the Welsh LGA, and has been Leader of the City and County of Swansea since 2014.
Cllr Nick Adams-King (Con, Hampshire) is Leader of Hampshire County Council, Portfolio Holder for Strategic Regeneration and Partnerships (South) at Test Valley Borough Council, and Chair of South East Councils.
Cllr Graham Butland (Con, Braintree) is Leader of Braintree District Council, Deputy Cabinet Member at Essex County Council, and became Chair of East of England LGA in July 2024.
Cllr John Hart (Con, Devon) was first elected in 1989 and is Chair of Devon County Council. He was its Leader from 2009 until earlier this year, and has been Chair of South West Councils since 2013.
Cllr Jason Smithers (Con, North Northamptonshire) was first elected in 2018, became the first Leader of North Northamptonshire Council in 2021, and sits on East Midlands Councils.
Cllr Alan White (Con, Staffordshire) is the EAB’s regional representative for the West Midlands. First elected in 2009, he is Leader of Staffordshire County Council.
- As first was going to press, there were a handful of vacancies on the EAB to be confirmed.
You can find out more about the LGA’s leadership and governance arrangements on our website.
