Yesterday saw an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Local Government Association in Bevan Hall, Smith Square.Political Group meetings were held before hand and attended by respective Ministers or Shadow Ministers & overflow accommodation linked by video had to be arranged such was the demand for seats.Faces appeared that I had not seen at the LGA for years & the Leaders of many great Northern Cities attended in large numbers. There was a buzz that is rarely seen in the LGA building.Following the Political Group meetings we filled Bevan Hall & adjacent rooms (referred to by Chairman Sir Merrick Cockell as Planet Zog) for the main event. Planet Zog appeared to be the Liberal Democrats hall of choice & contained numerous beards..One might assume that to call an Extraordinary LGA General Assembly meeting that momentous events were afoot. To summon elected members from the farthest reaches of the country, Ministers from up the road in Westminster together with an army of support staff must surely herald decision making of huge import to the local government sector.We had in fact gathered to agree the creation of two new LGA Programme Boards called City Regions & People & Places.This all came about because Cities feel that they are where the action is & supported by the views of luminaries such as Lord Heseltine & Greg Clark they are flexing their muscles - no longer were they prepared to put up with a mere Urban Commission.It all turned out to be something of a damp squib - when the vote was put after only 2 questions from the assembled mass there were 2 votes against & 1 abstention.So our City Regions have a bright new Programme Board to play with & I have no doubt that it will increase the profile, visibility and focus on cities.The rest of the country may understandably wonder how they are going to get a look in on future funding.Given the sparsity of genuine decision making opportunities on the agenda we were then treated to a heavy weight speech from our Chairman, Sir Merrick Cockell.I can not but say that it was a very worthy address.
