I am a huge supporter of the Local Government Association.
I absolutely believe that the local government world is a better place for having a single voice – and I am in favour of most of what it does.
As the Peer Review points out, if the LGA didn’t exist, we would have to invent it.
The report does a great job of highlighting some of the best bits of the LGA and it claims the Graph of Doom, 100 days, and Rewiring Local Government reports showcase local government lobbying at its best.
However, the report is balanced – if somewhat politely.
It doesn’t scrimp on highlighting the problems – some of which are inherent in the nature of the organisation.
It acknowledges that its diversity and consensus are its greatest strength and its greatest weakness.
On sector-led improvement, the Peer Review suggests the LGA needs to make reviews harder-hitting, intervene even where they are not wanted, and speak out against service failure.
The current consultation may provide some answers.
But as an association, reliant on subscriptions and consensus, the LGA struggles to speak with one voice when it is criticising its own and fails to bite the hands that feeds it.
The report is no doubt beautifully drafted to balance the criticisms with the praise – but they are there.
My understanding is that it was drafted several times in the six weeks between the initial findings and the final report – but I am told that was the LGA’s opportunity to feed back.
What concerns me is the LGA comment on the report – which highlights the positives but fails to acknowledge any problems.
The review was initiated after Labour group leader Jim McMahon came into post last July – yet it was only conducted in January and only reporting now.
It smacks of a body dragging its heels.
For an organisation which peer reviews councils, and which is considering making reviews mandatory, I would have liked to have seen all the warts as the LGA showed local government just how Peer Reviews should be done.
But, as Cllr McMahon has suggested, what happens next will be the real test.
