The LGA’s former Chairman and Conservative Peer Lord Gary Porter enjoyed sharing some ‘good’ gossip at the LGA’s annual conference.
Ahead of Local Government Minister Jim McMahon’s confirmation that the Government wants mayoral combined authorities to cover all of England (see ‘The best of local government’), Lord Porter advised delegates they were going to get them whether they wanted them or not – and to “get on board” and shape their own proposals for their areas.
Addressing small unitary, district and county councils, he predicted “you won’t be in the same place by the end of this Parliament”, because of local government reorganisation.
Again, he urged delegates to make their own plans accordingly, rather than waiting for something to “come out of a drawer in Whitehall”.
He also underlined the cross-party nature of local government – “it’s you against national government, whoever you are” – and highlighted how, as Chair of the LGA, he had “criticised the blue ones when they were in charge”.
“My proudest moments were leading my council and being chair of the LGA…because everyone in local government does the right things for the right reasons.”