Chair and Vice-Chairs

Elected members provide direction and oversee the work of the LGA. Governance structures are led by a senior group of members from each of the four political groups.


Cllr Shaun Davies - LGA Chair

Councillor Shaun Davies is the Chair of the Local Government Association and Leader of Telford & Wrekin Council.

Shaun was elected as LGA Chair in July 2023, becoming the youngest ever Chair of the Association, and having served previously as LGA Labour Group Leader (where he attended Shadow Cabinet) and as LGA Senior Vice-Chair. 

In his inaugural speech as Chair at LGA annual conference, he outlined his vision for the LGA - including a focus on the role of councils in supporting care leavers, influencing party manifestos and preparing for the first King’s Speech of a returning or new government, and ensuring the LGA is the very best membership organisation it can be, working day-in day-out for the benefit of its councils, councillors and residents as the national voice of local government. 

As part of his ambition for the LGA to be “General Election ready”, he has championed the production of a cross-party White Paper outlining how local government could work with central government in a new equal partnership and deliver services and support faster, better, and more efficiently. This work on a new local deal, and Shaun’s programme of visits to member councils across the country, is designed to ensure that the LGA reflects the voice of councils of all tiers, regions, and parties. 

In the context of significantly reduced Whitehall funding and higher demand for council services, Shaun continues to ensure the LGA is focused on making the case for multi-year settlements and appropriate funding for the hundreds of services our residents rely on. 

At home, and as Leader of Telford & Wrekin Council since May 2016, Shaun became the youngest Leader of an English council upon his election, is the longest serving Leader in Telford and Wrekin Council’s history, and led the Council to a number of ‘local authority of the year’ awards, including at the MJ Awards. Alongside securing one of the largest recent Direct Foreign Investments into the UK and overseeing the transformation of the council’s Children’s Services from ‘Requires Improvement’ to ‘Outstanding’, his ‘inspirational’ leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic meant Shaun was a finalist for the LGIU Council Leader of the Year in 2021.
 

Cllr 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.

Cllr Nesil Caliskan - Labour Group Leader and LGA Vice-Chair

Cllr Nesil Caliskan was first elected as Leader of Enfield Council in 2018 after serving as a councillor since 2015. Born and raised in Enfield, she was proud to be elected as the Council’s first woman and ethnic minority leader in the borough’s history.
 
In 2022, following her re-election as Council Leader, Nesil was elected as a Local Government representative on the Labour Party’s NEC with the highest number of votes. She also serves as the Executive member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Care for London Councils.
 
In 2023, Nesil was elected as Leader of the LGA Labour Group, becoming the first woman to serve in the role.

Cllr 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.

Cllr 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.

The LGA's Office Holders

The Chair, Vice and Deputy Chairs of the Association are nominated annually by the four political groups, and approved by the LGA General Assembly. Together they form the LGA board. Under Article 21 of the LGA Articles of Association each group whose share of the weighted electorate exceeds five per cent of the total is entitled to one Vice-Chair. The larger groups are entitled to Deputy Chairs according to proportionality. The Chair of the Association is nominated by the largest group.

Executive Advisory Board Members

The LGA Executive Advisory Board comprises the members of the Leadership Board, the Chairs of the policy boards and representatives of Wales and the nine English regions. The County Councils Network (CCN), District Councils Network (DCN) and the Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities (SIGOMA) also have a non-voting place, along with the chair of Local Partnerships.

Board Lead Members

Each policy Board includes a Chair, Vice-Chair and two Deputy Chairs – one nominated by each group. Collectively these are known as ‘Lead Members' and they oversee delivery of the priorities in the LGA's Business Plan, particularly between Board meetings.

LGA President / Vice-Presidents

Every year the General Assembly elects a President of the Association. The four Groups also appoint a number of Vice-Presidents. The President and Vice-Presidents are parliamentary representatives from the House of Commons, House of Lords, and they represent and champion the interests of local government in Parliament.