Leaders Council Inaugural meeting on 24 October 2024
Published 13 January 2025
Applies to England
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The inaugural Leaders Council met on 24 October 2024 in Harrogate during the Local Government Association’s annual conference.
In attendance from the UK government were the Deputy Prime Minister, Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, Jim McMahon OBE MP and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing and Local Government, Baroness Taylor of Stevenage OBE.
Attending from Local Government were
- Cllr Louise Gittins, Chair, Local government Association (LGA)
- Cllr Bev Craig, LGA Vice-Chair and Labour Group Leader
- Cllr Kevin Bentley, LGA Vice-Chair and Conservative Group Leader
- Cllr Bridget Smith, LGA Liberal Democrat Group
- Cllr Marianne Overton MBE, LGA Vice-Chair and Independent Group Leader
- Cllr Tim Oliver OBE, Chair, County Councils Network
- Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen, Chair, District Councils’ Network Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton CBE, Chair, Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities
- Cllr Tom Hunt, Core Cities
- Cllr John Merry CBE, Chair, Key Cities
- Cllr Claire Holland, Chair, London Councils
Council members discussed resetting the relationship between central and local government, confirming their commitment to working together respectfully and constructively. The substantive discussion topic related to opportunities stemming from the upcoming English Devolution White Paper. The government set out its objectives in this area and leaders offered their advice and expertise regarding effective implementation.