The Local Government Group has been transformed by an unprecedented programme of change aimed at adding value to the sector and supporting councils, says John Ransford

Local government is changing fast, and the Local Government Group must continually adapt and change with it, if it is continue to act as the national voice for the sector, and fulfil its purpose – to support, promote and improve local government.

In 2009, the leadership of the Local Government Association and its associated bodies – the-then Improvement and Development Agency, Local Government Employers, LACORS and Leadership Centre – recognised that, with funding becoming tighter, and member councils increasingly demanding evidence of the added value of their subscriptions, all needed to embark on a radical programme of change.

They launched the ‘Getting closer’ programme, with two stated aims – to bring together the five organisations into a single, integrated LG Group, and to refocus the work of the LG Group firmly on to on councils and councillors.

Alongside this, the ongoing commitment of the LG Group’s political leadership to continue to reduce subscriptions, and the need to respond to a heavily front-loaded 38% reduction in government funding, created a burning platform for change.

Two years on, the transformation is almost complete, and on 1 June, the new LG Group was launched.

An intensive programme of change has seen the introduction of new political governance arrangements across the Group, a new LG Group brand – introduced at minimum cost, harmonised pay and conditions for all staff, a radical restructure and a 45% reduction in staff costs.

We have co-located all our London-based staff in Local Government House, and the former IDeA headquarters in Farringdon is being marketed to secure income from commercial tenants which will help keep subscriptions down and fund additional services to member councils.

The new LG Group has pledged to fight local government’s corner and support councils through the current challenging times. Its sharpened focus is reflected in its two clear priorities

to represent and advocate for local government and make the case for greater devolution

to help councils tackle their challenges and take advantage of new opportunities to deliver better value for money.

But the LG Group is not resting on its laurels and the programme of change is not over yet. A new ‘knowledge hub’, offering a wealth of information for councils, will be launched at this year’s annual conference in Birmingham.

Despite the financial challenges facing local authorities, sales have been brisk and numbers attending the group’s flagship event are as high as ever – with an impressive line up of speakers who clearly believe that local government is a sector worth investing time and effort in.

The summer will also see big changes in the organisation’s political leadership. Baroness Margaret Eaton will stand down as the chairman of the LGA (see pages 16 and 17), together with David Shakespeare, Richard Kemp and Keith Ross, as vice chairs of the association, and group leaders of the Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Independent groups respectively.

The battle to find their successors has been closely followed, and the results of all but the Liberal Democrats will be revealed at general assembly on 28 June – leadership elections in the Liberal Democrat group will conclude a few weeks later.

One of the first jobs of the new political leadership in place will be to find a successor for the position of chief executive. I will retire later in the year, two-and-a-half years after I was given the tough job of delivering a new integrated LG Group.

I am delighted that after an intensive period of change, we now have a streamlined, flexible and sustainable organisation which is fit for its core purpose – to support, promote and improve local government.

Our challenge now is to make sure we continue to understand and adapt to the needs of our membership, and provide national added value to the sector.

With six councils now out of membership, and many more waiting to see what the new single organisation will deliver before they finally make up their minds, the new LG Group must make sure that it stays firmly rooted in the needs and expectations of its membership.

And that is exactly what it intends to do. John Ransford is chief executive of the Local Government Group