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With the local elections well underway, this week’s weekly bulletin comes directly from the LGA Independent Group Office.
Independent Group and LGA support on outcome of local elections 2025
The Independent Group Office will be closely monitoring the local election results 2025. We are available to support you taking control of a council, negotiating with other political groups, forming an opposition, etc.
The LGA Regional Teams will also be supporting you and your council Chief Executive in forming an administration, putting in support for any transition, etc. Your Independent Group Regional Lead Peers are also available to give you support.
It is part of the role of the LGA to support all councils through any transition after the local elections. Please take advantage of all the support available, be that training, onsite events with officers, mentoring, etc. If you would like to discuss potential change of control support, please contact the Head of Group Office.
LGA Independent Group Leadership Elections
This month’s LGA First Magazine contains official notice of the LGA Independent Group Leadership Elections.
Nomination papers are now available: Our leadership | Local Government Association
Guidance on the Leadership Elections is now available: LGA Independent Group elections | Local Government Association
All councillors who are members of the LGA Independent Group are able to vote in the Group Elections for the positions of Leader, Deputy Leader and Treasurer/AGM Chair.
Deadline for receipt of nomination papers is Friday 23 May by 5pm.
The Independent Group Leadership Hustings will take place in person and online the evening of Monday 2 June.
The ballot and election period, from when our members can vote using their unique online voter link, will open Wednesday 4 June and close Wednesday 25 June at 5pm.
The results of the elections will be declared at the LGA Independent Group AGM on Tuesday 1 July.
If anyone would like a confidential discussion or more information about the elections, please contact the Head of Group Office.
Independent Group Annual General Meeting, 10am – 11.30am, Tuesday 1 July, Liverpool
Notice is hereby given that our Independent Group Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place on the first day of the LGA Annual Conference in Liverpool on Tuesday 1 July, from 10am until 11.30am.
Group members wishing to put forward a motion to the AGM must provide a draft to the Independent Group Office and/or a member of the LGA Independent Group Leadership 30 days in advance of the meeting. The deadline for receipt of draft motions is 23.59hrs on 1 June.
The LGA Independent Group Executive will then provide feedback on the draft motion.
Final and form Notice of Motion must be submitted to the Independent Group Office using the template that will be supplied by the Group Office, no later than 14 days before the AGM. The deadline for receipt of final and formal motions is 10am Tuesday 17 June.
Please note for a motion to be considered, motions should:
- Call upon the Group to change its own Constitution or the way it relates to and provides support to its membership.
- Raise issues of national importance to the Group’s members on which the Group or the LGA should have a policy and take action and asks the LGA or Group Officers to pursue a course of action.
- Enable the Group to have a collective and powerful voice on national issues and change the national narrative.
- Have positive intent.
For any questions or queries on motions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Attending in person the Independent Group AGM/LGA General Assembly only
Our members can attend the Independent Group AGM and/or the LGA General Assembly only, in person, at the LGA Annual Conference in Liverpool without paying for a ticket to the conference. Please note there will not be access to the rest of the conference.
To attend the Independent Group AGM only in person please register using this link.
Please note that the deadline to register to attend the AGM only, not the whole conference, is 6 June. We will not be able to accept applications after this date.
To attend the LGA General Assembly as well, your council needs to register you separately.
Our members can also attend the Independent Group AGM online. The Independent Group Office is currently finalising the process for attending the AGM online and further details will be available soon.
LGA General Assembly
The General Assembly - the 'Parliament of Local Government' - meets once a year and is the only LGA decision-making forum which all authorities in membership are eligible to attend and to vote.
At the meeting, the General Assembly elects the LGA’s political leadership, receives the annual report and accounts, and may debate motions on nationally significant issues for local government.
Further details, including how to book, is available on the LGA Annual Conference webpage.
Invitation to submit a motion
The Annual Meeting provides an opportunity for discussion of motions calling on the Association to take action on major strategic policy issues. Local authorities are invited to submit motions by the deadline of 5.00pm on Tuesday 29 April 2025.
To do so, please:
- Refer to: Guidance note for submitting a motion to assist you in deciding whether your Motion meets the criteria for consideration by General Assembly. All Motions must comply with the criteria.
- Download and complete: Motion template which is at Appendix A of the guidance note.
Return to: memberservices@local.gov.uk or Member Services, Local Government Association, 18 Smith Square, Westminster, London, SW1P 3HZ by the deadline of: 5.00pm on Tuesday 29 April 2025.
Please note that not all Motions received are submitted to General Assembly. The LGA Board will decide what Motions should be debated at General Assembly.
Confirming your representatives
Member authorities are also now formally invited to appoint their representatives to serve on the LGA General Assembly from 1 July 2025 for the period of one year. The nomination form is now available in electronic format and will automatically alert authorities to the total number of votes they are entitled to.
To appoint your representatives for 2025-26 and inform us of observers / substitutes attending, please:
- Complete and automatically submit the nomination form: General Assembly Registration Form by the deadline of: Friday 6 June 2025.
Please be aware that this online form must be completed as confirmation of your nominated representatives as it will include important voting allocation information. Without this evidence, Members will not be able to vote.
Need further guidance?
Information on the General Assembly
Or contact members services or phone Fatima de Abreu on 07464 652721 / Dan Hyslop on 07920 230092
Dates released for LGA Training programmes 2025/26
The LGA has begun to release dates for its Leadership Training programmes 2025/26.
Leadership Essentials – specific portfolio, service area and specific themes
Leadership Academy – LGA’s flagship development programme for councillors in leadership positions
Focus on Leadership – supporting councillors in existing roles and bridging to senior leadership positions
The Leader’s Programme – cross-party leadership development designed around the needs of council leaders
Independent Group Next Generation – booking opening shortly, dates 17/18 October 25, 5/6 December 25 and 6/7 February 2026
LGA and Independent Group work on Climate Change
LGA Local Infrastructure and Net Zero (LINZ) Board Independent Group representatives, Cllr Loic Rich and Cllr Diana Moore, with support from Board substitute Cllr Jonathon Essex, have been working cross-party at the LGA to explore what specific legal responsibilities on councils on climate change would mean.
The LGA has now gone out to consultation to get the views of councils and interested parties including government departments, non-governmental organisations, interest groups, think tanks, alliances and more on whether councils should be set a statutory duty or duties to act on climate change. The consultation is now open and will close on Friday 30 May 2025 at 11.45pm.
Help shape an achieving Climate Duty that works for residents and future generations – from Cllr Wisdom Da Costa, Windsor and Maidenhead
As Independent and Green councillors, we know that real climate leadership starts locally—on our streets, in our services, and with our communities.
Now, as the LGA’s Local Infrastructure and Net Zero (LINZ) Board launches a consultation on a Climate Statutory Duty, there’s a risk that its scope will be shaped more by party compromise than by what’s truly needed.
We’re inviting you to help shape something stronger—grounded in vision, ambition, and the duty we hold to protect our residents and safeguard the future.
We’ve published a set of short, thought-provoking articles and we want your feedback on:
- What a Climate Statutory Duty should really achieve
- How far local authority responsibility and agency should go
- What areas of action it must cover—from housing and land use to local economies, health, and care (the “9 pillars”)
This conversation will:
- Empower Green and Independent voices on the LINZ Board
- Inform a bold, practical Climate Duty framework built from the ground up
- Identify barriers and share solutions across councils
- Challenge assumptions and raise our collective ambition
- Support campaigning, cross-party collaboration, and UK-wide influence
Join the growing group of councillors helping define a Climate Duty that works—for the places we serve, the people we represent, and the generations to come.
Councillor Performance Management e-learning communications
We would like to remind you that our free e-learning module on performance management is currently available to all councillors. This self-guided resource has been designed to support your role in performance management, how to constructively challenge your council's performance, and ultimately help you to bring about real benefits for the people living in your local area.
Our e-learning will cover:
- Why performance management is important
- Working collaboratively to manage performance
- Creating a performance management culture
- Performance measures
- Assessing performance management
In addition to this we have also produced a performance management guide for councillors which will provide you with an overview of what performance management is and the role of councillors in the performance management of your council.
If you need any assistance or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the data team or visit our dedicated performance management hub.
Monday 28 April 2025, 10.00 – 11.15am
This event provides an opportunity for elected members from councils that have been invited to submit proposals for LGR (this includes those on the devolution priority programme to the councils participating in later phases) to hear learning and reflections from senior colleagues with recent experience of the process.
Confirmed speakers:
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Cllr Jonathan Brook, Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy, Westmorland and Furness Council
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Cllr David Fothergill, Deputy Chair, Local Government Association; Chair, LGA Community Wellbeing Board and Councillor, Somerset Council
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Cllr Abi Brown OBE, Chair, LGA Improvement and Innovation Board and Councillor, Stoke on Trent City Council
The session will focus on the role of the elected member navigating LGR, including setting the strategic direction and leading their local place through the process. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear experiences of preparing LGR business cases and insights on what worked well, things that could have been done differently, and things they know now they wish they'd known then. Time will be allocated for questions and discussion.
This event is part of the LGA Improvement Sector Support Programme funded by the UK Government. Book your place now
With best wishes,
As always, please do get in touch with your regional lead peers should you require further help or assistance!
Best wishes,
LGA Independent Group Office
www.local.gov.uk/lga-independent
News from the LGA
Local elections: Candidate and canvassing safety
Our seven principles for safer canvassing guidance for councillors and candidates helpfully sets out practical advice for canvassers during the pre-election period and is openly available on the LGA website.
The Government has also produced a new candidate security guidance note. To receive a copy, email Jess Norman or contact your group office.
New guidance: Electoral implications of devolution and local government reorganisation
The Electoral Commission has developed new planning for devolution and local government reorganisation guidance. The guidance aims to support elections teams in planning for the impact of local government reorganisation and new strategic authorities on local and regional elections in their area.
More information is available from our devolution and local government reorganisation hub on the wider implications on local government.
The Government is consulting on proposals for mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting for large employers.
The LGA will submit a response to the consultation on behalf of the local government sector.
Mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting consultation
To inform our response, we want to understand your views on the proposals and any experience that you have in analysing and reporting ethnicity and/or disability pay gaps. You can provide us with this information by completing this survey:
LGA Survey: mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting consultation
You may find it useful to read our summary of the Government’s proposals
Please submit your survey response by 5pm on 1 May 2025.
Asylum accommodation and support pilots
The Home Office will be asking councils to return expressions of interest to participate in pilots testing a more active role in asylum accommodation and support with the aim to reduce hotel use in a letter to Leaders and Chief Executives. Councils should hear in June if the Government wishes to work with them on funding and delivery, with further rounds available over the next four years. The Government are aware this runs in parallel with asks under the new Afghan Resettlement Programme. The Home Office also shared details of the asylum dispersal grant funding for 2025/26, with further information on both available from Strategic Migration Partnerships.
Local government and legal responsibilities to act on climate change: An LGA open consultation
Tackling climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing our communities and ranks high in peoples’ priorities. LGA opens consultation to get the views of councils and interested parties including government departments, non-governmental organisations, interest groups, think tanks, alliances and more on whether councils should be set a statutory duty or duties to act on climate change. The consultation is now open and will close on Friday 30 May 2025 at 11.45pm.
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Delivery Network
The LGR Delivery Network met for the first time on Monday 7 April, bringing over 100 colleagues from councils across the country together to discuss the practical and technical aspects relating to LGR. The group met to discuss priorities and emerging challenges and to formulate a forward plan for how the network will facilitate support, learning, and development for the sector to deliver LGR. If you are interested in signing up to attend the network, please submit an expression of interest form.
Local Authority Funding Reform – Resetting the Business Rates Retention System: technical consultation
Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) has published a technical consultation on Local Authority Funding Reform – Resetting the Business Rates Retention System. This will run for eight weeks until 2 June 2025. The consultation contains detailed consideration of how to set the Business Rates Baseline in 2026 as part of the Government’s funding reforms. The LGA will be submitting a response. Please share your views with the LGA Finance Team
Call for evidence of tackling homelessness
We are seeking examples of innovative local approaches to preventing and responding to homelessness. We want to hear from councils that have developed effective strategies, partnerships, and interventions that improve outcomes for individuals and families while managing financial pressures. You can find the call for evidence and the template on our housing and homelessness hub.
Call for evidence: Lords inquiry into new towns
The Lords Built Environment Committee seeks councils' views on delivering new towns. Evidence on practical considerations, infrastructure, housing, and community development is welcomed. Submit by 12 May 2025. More information and submission details are available on UK Parliament website..
Call for evidence: Reducing the impact of works on road users
The Chartered Institute for Highways and Transportation (CIHT) has launched a call for evidence to inform its upcoming report on reducing the impact of works on road users. The report aims to support the efficient delivery of road maintenance and street works, while minimising disruptions on road users. CIHT will be accepting submissions until 5pm on 25 April 2025. Find out more CIHT website.
Local Audit reform
The Government has published the outcome of the consultation on local audit reform. Alongside this, the Government also announced funding for the costs of additional audit fees for build back of reassurance for local authorities affected by the backstop process. This is something we identified as being needed a year ago and have been lobbying for. A first tranche of £49 million will be distributed to qualifying local authorities during 2025/26.
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