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One of the country's top councils has warned the Local Government Association to up its game – or it will withdraw its membership. The Tory council – which has asked to remain anonymous – has warned that unless the association can act quickly to improve its services to members, it will take back its membership fees to spend on frontline services. After a chaotic run-up to Christmas, starting with the Icelandic banking crisis in October and culminating in chief executive, Paul Coen, being asked to take leave, the association faces losing the support of its members. Despite the internal turmoil at the association, it is the external handling of events which has provoked the anonymous council chief executive and leader each to approach the LGA with their concerns. The LGA was strongly criticised for its handling of the Icelandic banking crisis. It was then lambasted for failing to defend local authorities against Ofsted when it asked for verification of the annual performance assessment data. Many council chief executives and leaders are also upset the association has not taken a stronger line with the Audit Commission on the introduction of Comprehensive Performance Assessments. The council has said it will support LGA chairman, Margaret Eaton – but she will need to turn the organisation around within the next six months. With a new Government on the horizon, the association will have to be on top form to get its agenda across. A council insider told The MJ: ‘There is no reason why the LGA is not the biggest, most powerful lobbying organisation in the country.' He added: ‘We are running out of patience, and this is an ultimatum.' In the recession, councils are also likely to face increasing pressure from the Taxpayers' Alliance and the media to justify spending and senior salaries. Cllr Eaton has started to hit back at critics, with a letter to leaders this week in which she vowed to give members better value for money, and concentrate on the issues that mattered most to them. She told LocalGov sister title, The MJ the association had a ‘series of lobbying successes' last year, and while she had received no complaints, but had ‘several conversations with people' on how the LGA could be better. Internally, the managerial leadership remains up in the air, with Mr Coen still on leave, and deputy, John Ransford, holding the fort before his retirement. His replacement, Jo Miller – currently deputy chief executive at Bradford City Council– will not be able to start before late summer, as she will be on maternity leave. Both the IDeA and the Leadership Centre will lose their respective chief executives at the end of the financial year.

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WHITEHALL

Top county tells LGA: Improve or we leave

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