Our governance

The purpose of the Executive is to direct the work of the LGA Independent Group and hold it to account on behalf of all our members. Members take a strategic view across the work of the Group and the LGA. Areas of work will include looking at standards, board appointments, group priorities and policies, working policies, annual conference, events, local elections, etc.

Councillors are appointed for a maximum period of four years onto the LGA Independent Group Executive. We seek councillors from all over the country, including Wales, with a broad range of expertise and experience. To encourage a pipeline of talent, we appoint a young councillor for one year.

We ask all our members of our Executive to:

• positively and reliably represent the LGA Independent Group as a whole, not just an individual council, group or party
• seek, articulate and channel the views of LGA Independent Group members across all affiliations
• demonstrate and promote the values of the LGA Independent Group – Integrity, Challenge, Collaboration and Responsiveness to wider group members and residents
• encourage and foster collective debate with all councillors on issues important to the region
• contribute to the work of the Group on behalf of the whole, not a specific party/group, region, council or issue
• attend all Executive meetings
• treat Executive member discussions as confidential
• avoid sharing sensitive or confidential information garnered from Executive or Regional meetings on social media
• respond promptly to emails sent to the Executive for comment or sign off
• contribute and foster engagement with the wider Group via our think tanks.

Our Regional representatives on the Executive are asked to:

• work with the Group Office and your regional lead peer to host at least one regional meeting a year
• feedback on behalf of your region any key issues, concerns, good practice and peer support requirements.

Group Elected Leader and Chair – Cllr Hannah Dalton Leader of the Group Epsom and Ewell LGA Independent Group Executive Committee

• Group Elected Leader and Chair – Cllr Hannah Dalton, (Independent – Epsom and Ewell BC)
• Group Elected Deputy Leader and Deputy Chair – Cllr Andrew Cooper  (Green Party – Kirklees)
• Group Elected Treasurer and AGM Chair  – Cllr Johnny Denis (Green Party – Lewes DC and East Sussex CC)
• National Lead Peer – Cllr Adam Paynter (Independent – Cornwall)
• Plaid Cymru Wales representative –Vacant
• NALC representative – Vacant
• CCN representative – Cllr David Hitchier
• DCN representative – Cllr Paul Harvey
• NALC representative - Vacant
• London representative – Cllr Gillian Ford (Independent – havering LBC)
• East of England representative - Cllr Chidi Nweke (Independent, Epping Forest)
• East Midlands representative –Cllr Ashley Baxter  (Independent – South Kesteven)
• North East representative  – Cllr Andrew Walters (Independent – Salford)
• North West representative – Cllr Caroline Jackson (Green – Lancaster)
• West Midlands representative – Cllr Sue Baxter (Independent – Bromsgrove)
• South West representative – Cllr Roger Whitfield (Independent – North Somerset)
• South East representative – Cllr Paul Keene (Independent – Lewes)
• Independent Wales representative – Cllr Geraint Vaughan Thomas (Independent – Merthyr Tydfil)

Meeting dates

All Executive meetings are held as hybrid meetings, both online and in person at the LGA Offices, 18 Smith Square, London.

Attending a meeting

The LGA Independent Group Executive Committee has an open invitation for Group members to attend a meeting of their Executive Committee as an observer.

Attendance at an Executive Committee meeting is a useful opportunity for members to learn more about the work of the Group. Members can join online or in person, although they will need to meet their own travel costs.

Should you wish to attend a meeting please advise the LGA Independent Group Office by contacting:

[email protected]