The councillors overseeing the LGA’s work
Elected members remain central to the LGA’s decision-making processes, providing strategic direction and overseeing its work as the national voice of local government.
Governance structures are led by a senior group of members from each of the LGA’s six political groups, with places on policy committees and boards allocated according to the LGA’s current political balance.
Labour is the largest group – so nominates the LGA’s chair – on 24.6 per cent, followed by the Conservatives (20 per cent), Reform UK (18.7 per cent), Liberal Democrats (17.6 per cent), Independents (10.9 per cent), and Greens (8.2 per cent).
The new LGA Board was appointed by the LGA’s General Assembly in July and held its first meeting earlier this month. You can find out more about its members – and other senior members who sit on the LGA’s Strategic Policy Oversight Committee – below, and right.
Additionally, elected members also make up the majority on the Board of the Improvement and Development Agency, overseeing the LGA’s improvement and sector support work.
Chaired by Cllr Claire Holland OBE (Lab, Lambeth), its members include Cllr David Fothergill (Con, Somerset), Cllr Mark Arnull (Ref, West Northamptonshire), Cllr Tim Pickstone (Lib Dem, Cumberland), Cllr Julian German (Ind, Cornwall), and Cllr Matt Edwards (Green, Bradford).
- Find out more about how the LGA works.
LGA Board and Strategic Policy Oversight Committee (SPOC) members
Cllr Eamonn O’Brien (Lab, Bury) became Chair of the LGA in July 2026, having previously served as an LGA regional peer. First elected in 2014, he has been Leader of Bury Council since 2020 and holds the portfolio for Technical Education and Skills, and Clean Air, for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
lga.chair@local.gov.uk
Cllr Kevin Bentley (Con, Colchester) has been LGA Senior Vice-Chairman and Leader of the LGA’s Conservative Group since July 2023, having previously chaired the LGA’s People and Places Board. He was elected to Colchester City Council in 2002 and is a former Leader of Essex County Council.
cllr.kevin.bentley@colchester.gov.uk
Cllr Peter Mason (Lab, Ealing) is an LGA Vice-Chair. He became Leader of the LGA’s Labour Group in August this year. A trained town planner, he was first elected in 2014 and has led Ealing Council since 2021.
masonpe@ealing.gov.uk
Cllr Stephen Atkinson (Ref, Lancashire) has been Leader of the LGA’s Reform UK Group and an LGA Vice-Chairman since July 2025. He was elected to Lancashire County Council and became its Leader in May 2025, and is a member and former Leader of Ribble Valley Borough Council.
stephen.atkinson@lancashire.gov.uk
Cllr Bridget Smith (Lib Dem, South Cambridgeshire) became Leader of the LGA’s Liberal Democrat Group in May 2026 and an LGA Vice-Chair in July. She entered politics in 2008 and is the longest-serving female Liberal Democrat council leader, having led South Cambridgeshire since 2018.
cllr.smith@scambs.gov.uk
Cllr Hannah Dalton (Ind, Epsom & Ewell) has been Leader of the LGA’s Independent Group and an LGA Vice-Chair since July 2025. A Residents’ Association councillor on Epsom and Ewell Borough Council since 2015, she became Leader in 2021.
hdalton@epsom-ewell.gov.uk
Cllr Emily O’Brien (Green, Lewes) was elected Leader of the LGA’s Green Group and became an LGA Vice-Chair in 2026. First elected in 2019, she is Lewes District Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate, Nature and Food Systems.
emily.obrien@lewes.gov.uk
Other LGA Board members
Cllr Bella Sankey (Lab, Brighton & Hove) has been Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council since May 2023 and an LGA Deputy Chair since 2024. First elected in December 2022, she is also Deputy Leader of the LGA’s Labour Group.
bella.sankey@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Cllr Arooj Shah (Lab, Oldham) is a new LGA Deputy Chair and a former Chair of the LGA’s Neighbourhoods Committee. She is Leader of the Labour Group on Oldham Council and its former Leader.
arooj.shah@oldham.gov.uk
Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen (Con, Breckland) was elected to Breckland Council in 2007 and has been its Leader since 2019. He became an LGA Deputy Chairman last year and is a former Chairman of the District Councils’ Network.
sam.chapman-allen@breckland.gov.uk
Cllr Tim Oliver OBE (Con, Surrey), a former Chairman of the County Councils Network, has been an LGA Deputy Chairman since 2025. First elected in 1999 to Elmbridge Borough Council, he has led Surrey County Council since 2018.
tim.oliver@surreycc.gov.uk
Cllr Andrew Husband (Ref, Durham) is a new LGA Deputy Chair. Born and raised in County Durham, he was first elected to, and became Leader of, Durham County Council in 2025.
andrew.husband@durham.gov.uk
Cllr Linden Kemkaran (Ref, Kent) became an LGA Deputy Chair in July. She was first elected to Kent County Council and became its Leader in May 2025.
linden.kemkaran@kent.gov.uk
Cllr Victor Chamberlain (Lib Dem, Southwark) is a new LGA Deputy Chair. First elected in 2010 in Manchester, he is now Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, Strategic Planning, and Wellbeing at Southwark Council.
victor.chamberlain@southwark.gov.uk
Cllr Keith House (Lib Dem, Eastleigh) became an LGA Deputy Chair in July. He has been Leader of Eastleigh Borough Council since 1994 and is also Leader of the Opposition on Hampshire
keith.house@eastleigh.gov.uk
Other SPOC members
Cllr Claire Holland OBE (Lab, Lambeth) is Chair of the LGA’s Improvement and Development Agency Board, and Improvement Committee. A former Chair of London Councils and former Leader of Lambeth Council, she was first elected in 2014.
cholland@lambeth.gov.uk
Cllr Daniel Cowan (Lab, Southend-on-Sea) is Chair of the LGA’s Local Government Resources Committee. First elected in 2019, he has been Leader of Southend-on-Sea City Council since 2024.
CllrDanielCowan@southend.gov.uk
Cllr Richard Clewer (Con, Wiltshire) is Chairman of the LGA’s Public Service Reform and Innovation Committee. The Conservative Group Leader, and formerly Leader, of Wiltshire Council, was first elected in 2007 to Salisbury District Council.
richard.clewer@wiltshire.gov.uk
Cllr Matt Boughton (Con, Tonbridge and Malling) is Chairman of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Committee. Elected in Maidstone in 2015, he joined Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council in 2019 and has been Leader since 2021.
matt.boughton@tmbc.gov.uk
Cllr Natalie Oliver (Ref, Lincolnshire) is Chair of the LGA’s Children, Young People and Families Committee. She is Executive Councillor for Children’s Services at Lincolnshire County Council, where she was first elected in 2025.
cllrn.oliver@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Cllr Mick Barton (Ref, Nottinghamshire) is Chair of the LGA’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Committee. First elected to Mansfield District Council in 2003, he has been Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council since May 2025.
cllr.mick.barton@nottscc.gov.uk
Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor MBE (Lib Dem, Newcastle) is Chair of the LGA’s Health and Wellbeing Committee. First elected in 1988, she is Cabinet Member for Integrated Health and Adult Social Care at Newcastle City Council.
wendy.taylor@newcastle.gov.uk
Cllr Carl Cashman (Lib Dem, Liverpool) is Chair of the LGA’s Inclusive Growth Committee. First elected to Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council in 2016, he moved to Liverpool City Council in 2023 and is Leader of its Liberal Democrat Group.
carl.cashman@liverpool.gov.uk
Cllr Jon Hubbard (Ind, Wiltshire) is Chair of the LGA’s Neighbourhoods Committee. First elected in 2009, he is Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, SEND, Education, and Skills at Wiltshire Council.
jon.hubbard@wiltshire.gov.uk
Cllr Dr Wendy Maples (Green, Lewes) is Chair of the LGA’s Fire and Rescue Authority Committee. She is Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Wellbeing at Lewes District Council and also serves on East Sussex County Council.
wendy.maples@lewes.gov.uk