Title

Several councils, which threatened to leave the Local Government Association last year, have returned to the fold. However, the association is not out of the woods, with three councils holding on to their threat to withdraw by ‘rolling on' their notice for another year. Current membership status Out: Bromley, North Somerset, Torridge, East Hampshire Have given notice to withdraw next year: Wiltshire, Doncaster, Cumbria Staying in: Barnet, Croydon, Kings Lynn and West Norfolk, Fylde Under discussion: Slough And the association has doubled its drop out rate with two more councils expected to join Bromley LBC and North Somerset DC as non-members. Deputy chief executive of the LGA, Jo Miller, said she expected ‘no more than four councils' to be outside the organisation next year. The two new departing councils are likely to be East Hampshire and Torridge. Last year, the LGA hit a crisis of confidence with several authorities handing in their notice in the run up to the end of the financial year. Under the membership rules, councils must give at least a year's notice to leave. The resignations came after a torrid period for the organisation culminating in the departure of former chief executive Paul Coen. While the organisation has stabilised under current chief, John Ransford, and chairman, Margaret Eaton, Mr Ransford is due to retire later this and Cllr Eaton is half-way through her three-year term. The LGA has begun to operate a ‘two-tier' system, charging non-members for services which are freely available to member authorities. Plans to further restrict services for non-members will be discussed at a meeting this week.

Title

WHITEHALL

Returning councils mask LGA struggles

SUBSCRIBE TO CONTINUE READING