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The Local Government Association is facing a further setback, with several councils threatening to leave. At least three London boroughs are considering withdrawing their subscriptions in a bid to save cash, in addition to the anonymous Tory county council revealed last month. New chief executive, John Ransford, has also confirmed that a Midlands district council had given notice on its membership – which will not take effect until 2010 under the constitutional rules of the body. Mr Ransford said councils considered the value of their membership every year at ‘budget setting time', and the financial climate meant it was inevitable some councils would consider what cuts could be made. The LGA has already frozen subscriptions for many members – and cut some fees for smaller councils. Mr Ransford said it was up to the LGA to demonstrate it was good value for money. Last week, the leader of Barnet LBC, Mike Freer, announced his doubts on micro blogging site Twitter. He claimed he was ‘thinking the council's membership of the Local Government Association has run its course'. Kingston LBC has confirmed that it plans to give its notice. Sutton LBC has given notice to ‘keep our options open for next year's budget'. However, Hammersmith & Fulham LBC denied it was considering withdrawing its membership after one councillor suggested it in a national newspaper. Journalist and councillor, Harry Phibbs, presented 100 ways to cut council tax without cutting services – including cancelling LGA subscriptions. A spokesman for the council said these were the personal opinions of Cllr Phibbs, not council policy, and the council was not considering leaving the association. The LGA currently has full membership of all councils, except Bromley LBC.

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WHITEHALL

LGA faces new threats to quit

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