The LGA Articles of Association allows member authorities with common characteristics to form groupings of authorities to express a sectional interest.
It is open to any 10 or more full member authorities with common features, interests or concerns, to form a Special Interest Group (SIG), Under exceptional circumstances, the LGA Board may agree to the establishment of SIGs for smaller groups of authorities.
Download an application to form an LGA SIG.
SIGs are able to make representations direct to Government and elsewhere on matters arising directly from their special interest, and to obtain LGA assistance in doing so. All SIGs are required to submit a full report at the end of April each year to the LGA Board, covering such matters as their dealings with Government departments. SIGs are established for five years, and continuation of the SIG for longer than five years will be subject to SIG Member Councils restating the case for maintaining the SIG to the LGA Board.
All current LGA SIGs and the relevant contact details are listed below.
Set out below are the Special Interest Groups which operate under the umbrella of the LGA.
Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers
ALGAO has four key objectives: to provide a strong voice for local authority historic environment services and promote these within local government to strengthen and develop their role within local government in delivering local, regional and national government policy; to ensure that local government historic environment services are included within policy (national, regional and local) for culture and education; to ensure that policy aims to improve the sustainable management of the historic environment; and to promote development of high standards in the historic environment profession.
Contact: Quinton Carroll (Historic Environment Team Manager, Cambridgeshire County Council)
Telephone: 01223 728565
Email: quinton.carroll@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Climate Emergency Network
To support Local Authorities in declaring a ‘Climate Emergency’ and in preparing and implementing plans to achieve carbon neutral status as quickly as possible.
Contact: Cllr Kevin Frea (Deputy Leader, Lancaster City Council)
Telephone: 07716246672
Email: kfrea@lancaster.gov.uk
Coastal SIG
Annual report
This group's principal aim is to establish improved governance, management and community wellbeing to ensure that the UK has the best managed coast in Europe, and to identify appropriate and sustainable funding strategies to support this aim.
Contact: Emily Cunningham (South Tyneside Council)
Telephone: 07582230371
Email: emily.cunningham@southtyneside.gov.uk
Website: Coastal SIG
Co-operative Councils Innovation Network SIG
Annual report
Contact: Jonathan Downs
Address: Oldham Council, Civic Centre, West Street, Oldham
0LI 1UL
Telephone: 0161 770 5691
Email: jonathan.downs@oldham.gov.uk
Councils with ALMOs Group (CWAG)
Annual report
Contact: Alison Freeman
Telephone: 07909 548609
Email: alison@freeman04.plus.com
Website: CWAG website
County Councils Network
Annual report
Contact: Simon Edwards
Telephone: 0207 664 3006
Website: County Councils Network website
District Councils Network
Annual report
Contact: Nick Porter, Director
Telephone: 0207 664 3113,
Email: nick.porter@local.gov.uk
Website: District Councils Network website
F40 Group of Education Authorities
Annual report
Contact: Doug Allen
Telephone: 01287 610404
Email: doug@dtw.co.uk
Website: F40 Group of Education Authorities
Key Cities SIG
Annual report
Key Cities comprise 26 of England's mid-sized cities, covering the length and breadth of England. These cities, with a combined GVA of £163 billion and population of 7.9 million, play a key role in their regional economies
Contact: Clare Elliott, Wakefield Metropolitan District Council
Email: keycities@wakefield.gov.uk
Website: Key Cities
Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF)
Annual report
The Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF) is the UK's leading collaborative shareholder engagement group. It aims to protect fund and beneficiaries' long term investment interests, by promoting the highest standards of corporate governance and corporate responsibility amongst the companies in which they invest.
Contact: Councillor Doug McMurdo, Chair
Telephone: 0207 3927880
Email: info@lapfforum.org
Website: LAPFF forum
National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA)
Annual report
Contact: David Preston
Telephone: 01691 680713
Email: nabma@nabma.com
Website: Nabma website
National Association of Police, Fire and Crime Panels
Annual report
The National Association of Police, Fire and Crime Panels will represent the views and interests of police and crime panels / police, fire and crime panels, which are hosted by local authorities and on which all English and Welsh authorities outside London are represented.
Contact: Emma Tombs (Secretary)
Telephone: 03330 322709
Email: Emma.tombs@essex.gov.uk
Website: http://policecrimepanels.com/
New Nuclear Local Authorities Group (NNLAG)
Annual report
Contact: Energy Island Programme Office
Email: PMO@ynysmon.gov.uk
Nuclear Decommissioning and Radioactive Waste Management SIG
Annual report
(known as NuLeAF, the Nuclear Legacy Advisory Forum)
Contact: Catherine Draper
Telephone: 01473 264833
Email: catherine.draper@nuleaf.org.uk
Website: Nuleaf website
Public Transport Consortium
Annual report
Chair: Cllr Harold Davenport
Telephone: 01663 763986
Email harold.davenport@cheshireeast.gov.uk
Contact: Administrator – Ellie Thornley
Telephone: 07757 944689
Email admin@publictransportconsortium.org.uk
Website: Public Transport Consortium
Rural Services Network
Annual report
Contact: David Inman
Telephone: 01822 851370
Email: david.inman@sparse.gov.uk
Website: Rural services Network
Shared Chief Executives Network - Dormant
Contact: Kevin Dicks
Chief Executive of Redditch BC and Bromsgrove DC
Email: k.dicks@bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk
Telephone: 01527 534000
SIGOMA (Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities)
Annual report
Contact: Frances Foster, Secretary, Barnsley MBC
Telephone: 01226 773101
Email: sigomaenquiries@barnsley.gov.uk
LGA Contact: Mike Heiser
Website: SIgoma
Strategic Aviation SIG (SASIG)
Annual report
SASIG works for local authorities in a strategic manner on national aviation policy to reconcile economic, social and environmental issues.
All LGA local authorities with an airport in or near their jurisdiction are welcome to join the SIG. Please contact us for a discussion about the work of the group.
Contact: SASIG Secretariat
Telephone 07860 218477 – n.b. in the event we cannot take your call, please leave a message with full inquiry and contact details.
Email: secretariat@sasig.org.uk
Website: www.sasig.org.uk
Unitary Councils’ Network
Annual report
Contact: Cllr Paul Bettison OBE
Co-ordinator and Leader of Bracknell Forest Council
Telephone: 07836 287050
Email: paul.bettison@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
World Heritage Sites
Annual report
Contact: Gill Clarke
Telephone: 01225 423616
Email: gillianmclarke@hotmail.com
Website World Heritage Site