Independent councillors now lead 33 councils and are in administration in 32 more.
More than 100 councillors attended the annual LGA Independent Group Conference and delayed annual general meeting in November.
Looking through our annual report for 2019/20 and our work since, it is astonishing how much our councillors do in our communities, and by influencing national policy through our group’s think tanks in central government and Europe.
After a review of a year in which our group grew by more than 600 members, it was good to hear from the LGA’s Chairman, Cllr James Jamieson, and LGA Chief Executive Mark Lloyd about ongoing and future priorities.
They both outlined just how much our councillors contribute to the LGA’s work: to get better funding and legislation for our members and the residents we represent.
Professor Colin Copus, Emeritus Professor of Local Politics at De Montfort University, spoke about his work on future governance in our councils, emphasising the importance of ‘local’ decision-making.
He highlighted the risk that local government reorganisation can pose to the diversity and representation of our councils – something our members will want to challenge.
The ‘zombie’ issue of reorganisation won’t properly die, but isn’t fully alive either, and members across the country are developing different responses in preparation for when they are needed.
However, devolution doesn’t need reorganisation. It needs to pass freedoms and powers to local government from the centre and fundamentally challenge centralisation.
From just three councils when I started, our members now lead 33 councils and are in administration of 32 more, with significant influence for the good. By consistently supporting our members though training, mentoring and information, we have helped to bring improvements to our councils and the contributions our members make.
Even from a position of no overall control or backbenches, our members have made amazing changes and are fundamentally improving the way they work.
Conference also heard from five council leaders; Cllrs Sarah Rouse (Malvern Hills); Angie Dale (Richmondshire); Phelim Mac Cafferty (Brighton & Hove); Julian German (Cornwall); and Rosemarie Harris (Powys). They all spoke of their determination and impressive success in supporting residents, from making committees more open and inclusive, to reshaping public areas, and supporting business and the vulnerable.
My deputy, Cllr Clive Woodbridge, and I were delighted to present awards to councillors who have truly excelled. These included: Cllr Linda Gillham (Runnymede), Cllr Rouse and our regional peer team, for their significant contributions to the LGA over the past year; Cllrs Sally Hawken (Cornwall), Carolyn Rule (Cornwall) and Liz Harvey (Herefordshire), nominated by their council leaders for their effective leadership in their authorities; Cllrs Pauline Dee (Shropshire) and Steven McCormick (Epsom & Ewell) for services to their community; and Cllrs Sandra Squire (West Norfolk) and Kieron Wilson (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) who are among several councillors shortlisted for the 2020 LGiU and CCLA Cllr Awards.
Our most prestigious accolade, the Clarence Barrett Award, went to Cllr German, for outstanding achievements, including innovation and quality in the work of his council.
Thank you to Cllr Woodbridge, Treasurer Cllr Paul Woodhead and our executive from across England and Wales. Thank you also to our team of peers, led by Mike Haines, and to our excellent Independent Group officers, Sarah Woodhouse, Noleen Rosen and Aimee Wittams-Smith.
Finally, thank you to our increasingly successful membership. The past 18 months have been challenging, but our members are in a strong position for the year ahead.
To find out more about the LGA’s Independent Group, please visit www.local.gov.uk/lga-independent.