Chair and Vice-Chairs

Councillor Louise Gittins – LGA Chair

Cllr Louise Gittins was first elected to Cheshire West and Chester Council in 2011, to serve Little Neston and Burton. A year later, she became the Shadow Spokesperson for Culture and Leisure and was subsequently appointed as the Shadow Deputy Leader in 2014.

Following the 2015 election, which saw Labour take control of Cheshire West and Chester Council, Cllr Gittins was named Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities and Wellbeing, and in May 2019, she was elected as Leader of the Council and continues in this role to date.

Cllr Gittins' portfolio responsibilities as Council Leader include: Devolution; Public Service Reform; Climate Emergency; the local Health Economy; and wider External Partnerships. External appointments comprise a number of regional and national leadership roles, including: Vice Chair of Transport for the North (TfN); Chair of the LGA Children and Young People Board; Chair of Growth Track 360; Chair of the Cheshire and Merseyside Health Partnership; elected member lead for developing Cheshire and Warrington as a Marmot region; chair of Coop Councils innovation network; and she is current leader of the Cheshire and Warrington sub regional leaders board.

In her role as Council Leader, Cllr Gittins appointed three Leader’s Champions designed to address three ‘extraordinary challenges’ facing the borough: Climate Emergency, Poverty Emergency and Mental Health. Her vision is that of a compassionate Cheshire West and Chester – a council that works to build stronger communities, creating services based on social value, which tackle poverty and discrimination, and which promote equality across the borough. She also wants to continue to empower local people and communities to be at the heart of decision-making, building on the work and ethos of inclusive democratic models such as the Poverty Truth Commission. This work has considerably accelerated over the past few years.

Cllr Gittins has a professional background in leadership and management training, running her own life coaching business. She lives in Neston with her husband, and is passionate about all things outdoors, culture and heritage.

To get in touch with Cllr Gittins, please email [email protected].

Councillor Kevin Bentley – Conservative Group Leader and LGA Senior Vice-Chairman

Cllr Kevin Bentley was elected to Essex County Council in 2009 and appointed as the Deputy Cabinet Member to the Leader. Having served two years in this post he was promoted to the Cabinet in 2011 and appointed Deputy Leader to the Council 2013, where he led on Economic Growth and Infrastructure. He was elected Leader of the Council in May 2021.

Kevin is also a Colchester City Councillor and has previously been Leader of the Conservative Group in Colchester. He has served in the Colchester Cabinet holding the portfolio for Business, Tourism and Leisure. He has also stood for Parliament twice in Colchester. Kevin has been the Chairman of LGA People’s and Places Board, and led the Brexit negotiations on behalf of the LGA with Government.

He is also Chair of Transport East. Outside of politics Kevin is the Chairman of the awarding winning PR Digital and Marketing Agency, Mosaic Publicity and is a journalist by profession. Before leaving to set up Mosaic Publicity in 2000 he spent 20 years working for the BBC as a radio and television reporter and producer.

Councillor Bev Craig – Labour Group Leader and LGA Vice-Chair

Cllr Bev Craig became Leader of Manchester City Council on 1 December 2021. First elected in 2011 as a Burnage councillor, she held a range of responsibilities on Manchester City Council, including as Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Health, and Deputy Leader.

Since becoming Leader, her focus has been on Manchester’s ambitious plans to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy, increasing investment into neighbourhoods across the city, better outcomes for children and young people, tackling inequalities, building more housing and working to meet Manchester’s net zero ambitions.

Bev is Chair of Core Cities UK and in Greater Manchester she holds a range of responsibilities on behalf of the city, including leading on the Economy, Business, and International Portfolio for the Combined Authority. 

Originally from Belfast, she moved to Manchester in 2003 for university. After graduating from the University of Manchester she began her career in Local Government, before working in higher education and then a national trade union leading on social care. Outside of politics she enjoys sports and being outdoors, music, culture and enjoying all that Manchester has to offer.

Councillor Joe Harris – Liberal Democrat Group Leader and LGA Vice-Chair

Joe has lived in the Cotswolds all his life. He attended Cirencester Deer Park School and Cirencester College.  Working at a local Youth Club inspired Joe to get involved in local politics.

When he was 18 Joe was elected to Cotswold District Council, and re-elected in 2015 and 2019. He was the Mayor of Cirencester in 2013, and then became Leader of the Council. He is also a Gloucestershire County Councillor.

Joe is a big football fan and supports Swindon Town and Chelsea. In his spare time he enjoys running and Italian food.

Joe was elected Leader of the LGA Liberal Democrat Group and Vice-Chair of the LGA in July 2021.

Councillor Marianne Overton MBE – Independent Group Leader and LGA Vice-Chair

Cllr Marianne Overton MBE serves on Lincolnshire County Council and North Kesteven District Council, where she sits on the Planning Committee. She is the Independent Group Leader in both authorities and is particularly active on environmental issues, health and social care and education.

Marianne's education was spread between South Africa and London. She served as a Non-Executive Director for NHS Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust and a Governor of the University of Lincoln. She is a qualified biologist and a past Chairman of the Society of Biology (East Midlands) and Fellow of the University of Lincoln. As a Director of Biosearch Expeditions, she has organised many expeditions to remote Third World regions to carry out field research for conservation management. Marianne is very active in Lincolnshire supporting business and communities. Her contribution to local government was recognised with a Queen's New Year's Honour in 2014 and the award of an MBE.

Marianne was first elected as Leader of the LGA Independent Group in June 2011.