Member peers

The LGA provides a range of tools and support to help councils and councillors further strengthen local accountability and improve their performance.


Peer challenge and peer support are fundamental parts of our offer to support self-regulation and sector-led improvement. 

Member peers are accredited to support councils and their councillors with their improvement and learning by providing a 'practitioner perspective and 'critical friend' challenge. Each of the four political groups at the LGA has a pool of expert peers able to confidentially advise our members.

Find out more about sector-led improvement, the approach and the LGA Offer - including the opportunity for each council and fire and rescue service to have a corporate peer challenge, at no charge, once every three years.

Councillor Adam Paynter

Independent Group National Lead Peer

[email protected]

Cllr Linda Gillham

Independent Group Regional Peer

Representing south east and London

[email protected]

Georgina Hill

Independent Group Regional Lead Peer

Representing North East and Yorkshire & Humberside

[email protected]

Cllr Jo Beavis

Independent Group Regional Lead Peer

Representing East of England and East Midlands

[email protected]

Cllr Andrew Cooper

Independent Group Regional Lead Peer

Supporting Green Members

[email protected]

Cllr Zoe Nicholson

Independent Group Regional Lead Peer

Supporting Green Members

[email protected]

Cllr Sue Baxter

Independent Group Regional Lead Peer

West Midlands and North West Regions

[email protected]

Councillor Jim McKenna

Independent Group Regional Lead Peer

Representing the South West Region

[email protected]

If you are interested in receiving support from any of our lead member peers or if would like to know more about the work of our Independent Group member peers, please contact:

Head of Group Office

Abigail Gallop

Telephone: 020 7664 3206

Email: [email protected]

Mobile: 07780 226 852

To apply for accreditation, please complete this application form