The next chair of the Local Government Association (LGA) is expected to be Labour's Shaun Davies following the shift to the left in the local elections.
While calculations to decide the political control of the association will not be complete until the end of next week, the swing towards Labour – and away from the Conservatives – will mean there will almost certainly be a Labour-led LGA.
Cllr Davies, who is leader of Telford and Wrekin, is currently leader of the LGA Labour group. While he will need to be elected, local government insiders suggest he may be nominated unopposed for the seat.
However, taking on the top job of the cross-party association will mean Cllr Davies will need to step down from the Labour NEC and stop going to shadow Cabinet meetings – both privileges that come with the Labour group post.
Cllr Davies – whose council was named as Local Authority of the Year in The MJ Awards last year - will remain as chair-elect until the LGA General Assembly in June when current chairman James Jamieson will step down.
In a further complication, Cllr Davies has been selected to stand as an MP in the next General Election – meaning he could be in post for as little as a year.
During the election period, he would be required to stand aside with the Conservative senior vice chair of the LGA taking on his duties. He would then be replaced, should his bid to be an MP be successful, The MJ understands.
The Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Independent groups on the LGA are all expected to face elections for their group leaders this year.
