Special Interest Groups

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.


Special Interest Groups which operate under the umbrella of the LGA

Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers (ALGAO)

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

Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers (ALGAO) Special interest group annual report 2021 (PDF)

Coastal SIG

The LGA Coastal SIG exists to champion the collective interests of coastal communities by increasing awareness and debate on environmental, economic and social issues at all levels in relation to the coast.  We have a membership of 57 coastal local authorities. Together we cover 60% of England’s coastline and serve 16 million people.

Name: Emily Cunningham (South Tyneside Council)
Telephone: 0191 424 7918
Email: lgacoastalsig@southtyneside.gov.uk
Website: www.lgacoastalsig.com
Twitter: LGACoastalSIG

Coastal Special Interest Group annual report to LGA Board 2021 (PDF)

Co-operative Councils Innovation Network SIG

Contact: Jonathan Downs
Address: Oldham Council, Civic Centre, West Street, Oldham
0LI 1UL
Telephone: 0161 770 5691
Email: jonathan.downs@oldham.gov.uk

Co-op Special Interest Group annual report to LGA Board 2021 (PDF)

Councils with ALMOs Group (CWAG)

Contact: Alison Freeman
Telephone: 07909 548609
Email: alison@freeman04.plus.com
Website: CWAG website

CWAG Special Interest Group annual report to LGA Board 2021 (PDF)

County Councils Network

 Contact: Simon Edwards
Telephone: 0207 664 3006
Website: County Councils Network website

County Councils Network Special Interest Group annual report to LGA Board 2021 (PDF)

District Councils Network

Contact: Nick Porter, Director
Telephone: 0207 664 3113, 
Email: nick.porter@local.gov.uk
Website: District Councils Network website

District Councils Network Special Interest Group annual report to LGA Board 2021 (PDF)

F40 Group of Education Authorities

Contact: Doug Allen
Telephone: 01287 610404
Email: doug@dtw.co.uk
Website: F40 Group of Education Authorities

F40 Group of Education Authorities Special Interest Group annual report to LGA Board 2021 (PDF)

 Key Cities SIG

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: Rachel Todd, Salford City Council  
Email: keycities@salford.gov.uk
Website: Key Cities

Key Cities Special Interest Group annual report to LGA Board 2021 (PDF)

Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF)

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 2018/19
Contact: David Preston
Telephone: 01691 680713
Email: nabma@nabma.com
Website: Nabma website

National Association of Police, Fire and Crime Panels (NAPFCP)

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/

NAPFCP Special Interest Group annual report to LGA Board 2021 (PDF)

New Nuclear Local Authorities Group (NNLAG)

New Nuclear Local Authorities Group (NNLAG)
Contact – Rebecca Rushmer
Email - rebecca.rushmer@essex.gov.uk

New Nuclear Local Authorities Special Interest Group annual report to LGA Board 2021 (PDF)

Nuclear Decommissioning and Radioactive Waste Management SIG

(known as NuLeAF, the Nuclear Legacy Advisory Forum)
Contact: Catherine Draper
Telephone: 01473 264833
Email: catherine.draper@nuleaf.org.uk
Website: Nuleaf website

NuLeAF Special Interest Group annual report to LGA Board 2021 (PDF)

Public Transport Consortium

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

Public Transport Consortium Special Interest Group annual report to LGA Board 2021 (PDF)

Rural Services Network

Contact: David Inman
Telephone: 01822 851370 
Email: david.inman@sparse.gov.uk
Website: Rural services Network

Rural Services Network Special Interest Group annual report to LGA Board 2021 (PDF)

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)

Contact: Frances Foster, Secretary, Barnsley MBC
Telephone: 01226 773101
Email: sigomaenquiries@barnsley.gov.uk
LGA Contact: Mike Heiser
Website: Sigoma

SIGOMA (Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities) Special Interest Group annual report to LGA Board 2021 (PDF)

Strategic Aviation SIG (SASIG)

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

Strategic Aviation Special Interest Group annual report to LGA Board 2021 (PDF)

Unitary Councils’ Network

Contact: Cllr Paul Bettison OBE
Co-ordinator and Leader of Bracknell Forest Council
Telephone: 07836 287050
Email: paul.bettison@bracknell-forest.gov.uk

Unitary Councils' Network Special Interest Group annual report to LGA Board 2021 (PDF)

World Heritage Sites

Contact: Gill Clarke
Telephone: 01225 423616
Email: gillianmclarke@hotmail.com
Website World Heritage Site

World Heritage UK Special Interest Group annual report to LGA Board 2021 (PDF)