Cllr Louise Gittins has today announced her intention to stand down as Chair of the Local Government Association.
Cllr Louise Gittins, said:
“Chairing the LGA has been one of the greatest privileges of my career, serving in the role and being able to work alongside such dedicated colleagues.
“Whilst in my role, I have remained Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council and since April, I have also served as Chair of our new Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority. With elections at my council taking place in 2027, now is the time to step back from the LGA and focus all my efforts on unlocking the opportunities this new chapter brings for the place I call home.
“During my time as LGA Chair, we have seen our central call of the LGA’s White Paper answered by the Leaders’ Council – a new equal partnership between central and local government. We have secured the first multi-year financial settlement in a decade, key funding boosts for our sector across social care, homelessness, and waste, and led the way on influencing major pieces of legislation and policy from SEND and the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act, to devolution and vapes.
“In my first conference speech as Chair, I outlined my passion for tackling health inequalities and I am immensely proud of the progress we have made on securing an earlier, multi-year Public Health Grant settlement and championing a Men’s Health Strategy.
“Our improvement offer has gone from strength to strength too, with the LGA retaining and securing a range of contracts from Government departments for major programmes. This is not only a mark of confidence in the LGA and our sector-led improvement support, but a reflection of the knowledge, dedication, and care that LGA members and officers bring across the country and which we have seen first-hand in the lead-up to and results of the local elections.
“Throughout my time as Chair, the LGA and the wider local government sector have worked constructively together through significant challenges and reforms, including local government reorganisation and the Fair Funding Review. We have also ensured councils’ voices were heard at the Covid Inquiry. Together, these moments have exemplified the LGA’s unique strength and core tradition that we speak more powerfully as one collective voice for all councils, regardless of their party, region, or tier.
“With 316 of 317 councils in membership and soon to welcome a new Green Group, I know that this unity of purpose, backed by the expertise of colleagues, stands the LGA in good stead in supporting members to navigate the opportunities and challenges of the future.”
The LGA Labour Group will now nominate a new Chair, as per their procedures, and will make an announcement in due course.
The next LGA Chair will be elected at General Assembly on 7 July ahead of the LGA’s Annual Conference in Bournemouth.
Ends