About the LGA

The Local Government Association (LGA) is an organisation that is run by its members. We are a political organisation because it is our elected representatives from all the different political parties that direct the organisation through our boards and panels. However, we always strive to agree a common cross-party position on issues and to speak with one voice on behalf of local government.

We aim to set the political agenda and speak in the national media on the issues that matter to council members.

The LGA covers every part of England and Wales, and includes county and district councils, metropolitan and unitary councils, London boroughs, Welsh unitary councils, fire, police, national park and passenger transport authorities. 

We also work with the individual political parties through the Political Group offices.

Key messages

Changing lives – Local government can make an impact and a tangible, lasting difference to people's lives. It has the ability and ambition to inspire and lead communities.  Unlike many organisations, councils can make change happen instantly and with real authority, at a very local level. This is key to driving growth and prosperity – the opposite of the grand, empty gesture. Localism is central to this, and promises a better quality of life driven by a renewed focus on local democracy.

Accountable – trusted, open, transparent. Local government is one of the most open and democratic parts of the public sector. Voters trust it to deliver – and indeed, elect it to do so. It can be trusted to handle issues important to people's everyday lives, as well as involving them in those decisions. Councillors are trustworthy individuals and work hard in a transparent, highly accessible environment. It has a valuable reputation, but this reputation needs to be protected, and enhanced.

Efficient – effective, value for money, does the job within the means, a good spender of public money in a way which helps people and communities more effectively than most other organisations. Not afraid to cut costs. Innovative about ways of improving. Prepared to consider radical economies of scale if this helps delivery on the ground. The most efficient part of the public sector.

Reliable – safe, always there, a safety net, can be relied on when other systems fail, predictable, you know what you are getting. Things simply happen every day with clockwork regularity. Local communities depend on this and on what local government delivers. It is sometimes the small things that have most impact and leave the biggest impression.