Councils feel alienated and excluded from the LGA, according to a major report into the effectiveness of the organisation. The report, by an independent commission chaired by LGA president Lord Best, has called on the association to re-connect with its members and put them at the centre of its future work. Lord Best unveiled an 18-point plan to set new priorities for the LGA on the 10th anniversary of its official launch, but warned that it will only succeed in securing more local devolution of power from Whitehall, ‘if it taps into the talent and knowledge of its members and engages them fully in the process of achieving change'. He acknowledged that the association has had significant success in arguing the case for local government at the national level, but said: ‘The LGA's relations with member councils are not so good. ' The report says: ‘We have found some significant levels of alienation and disaffection among members. Some stay in membership out of habit or a sense of sector solidarity without believing that the direct benefits to them really justify their subscription. Others do not doubt the effectiveness of the LGA but do not feel included in its processes.' Among suggestions put forward are plans for an LGA Futures think-tank, a network of LGA ‘ambassadors' and regional ‘sounding boards', together with improved communications. It also says the local government central bodies – IDeA, 4ps, Lacors and LGE – should operate more clearly under LGA leadership. LGA chief executive, Paul Coen, promised to meet the challenge thrown down by the commission ‘head on' and said: ‘A wholesale review of how we bring about genuine two-way communication with our member authorities has begun.' Chairman, Sandy Bruce-Lockhart said the LGA would publish a prospectus next month setting out its response to Lord Best and initiatives to help local government raise its game.
