Detailed Links

Local Government Association and others

Local Government Association The LGA, formed on 1 April 1997, promotes the interests of English and Welsh local authorities - a total of just under 500 authorities. Confederation of Scottish Local Authorities The representative voice of Scottish local government, also acting as the employers’ association on behalf of all thirty-two Scottish unitary councils. Northern Ireland Local Government Association NILGA was established in October 2001, replacing the Association of Local Authorities for Northern Ireland, and represents the province’s twenty-six district councils. Welsh Local Government Association The WLGA represents the interests of local government and promotes local democracy in Wales. It represents the twenty-two local authorities in Wales, and the four police authorities, three fire and rescue authorities and three national park authorities are associate members. Association of National Parks Authorities UK ANPA brings together the 14 National Park Authorities of England, Scotland and Wales to raise their profile of the National Parks and to promote joint working. Association of Police Authorities The Association of Police Authorities was set up in April 1997 to represent police authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, both on the national stage and locally.  It influences policy on policing and it supports local police authorities in their important role. Centre for Public Scrutiny The CfPS provides best practice and guidance to local authorities in relation to their scrutiny role. County Councils Network The County Councils Network represents all 37 English shire counties. Together these authorities represent 48% of the population of England and provide services across 87% of its land area. Improvement and Development Agency The IDeA was created in 1999 from the former Local Government Management Board as a clearing house for best practice in relation to both local authority services and elected members. Improvement Network The Improvement Network offers support to public sector managers and practitioners, through promoting the partnership's collaborative knowledge and expertise on improvement issues. Inter-Authorities Group Founded in 1992 the Inter Authorities Group (IAG) is an independent officer led association. Today it has a membership of over 80 local authorities and other public bodies. Leadership Centre for Local Government The Leadership Centre works with local authorities in England to develop the quality of leadership among their political leaders and officers. Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services Set up in 1978 to co-ordinate the enforcement activities of trading standards, LACORS provides advice and guidance to help support local authority regulatory and related services. Since 1991, it has also worked on food safety and is currently responsible for a range of other regulatory and related services. Local Authorities Research & Intelligence Association LARIA was established in 1974 to promote the role and practice of research within the field of local government and provide a supportive network for those conducting or commissioning research. Local Authority Pension Fund Forum The Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF) brings together a diverse range of local authority pension funds with combined assets of over £75 billion. Formed in 1990, it provides a unique opportunity for discussion of investment issues and shareholder action by Britain's local authority pension funds. Local Government Employers Local Government Employers (LGE) was created by the Local Government Association in 2006 (replacing the Employers’ Organisation).  LGE works with local authorities, regional employers and other bodies to lead and create solutions on pay, pensions and the employment contract. National Association of Local Councils Established in 1947, NALC represents some 10,000 parish and town councils in England and community councils in Wales at the non-principal tier. Nuclear Free Local Authorities Established in 1980 at the height of the Cold War, NFLA recommend action which can be taken by local authorities to promote the well being of their areas by reducing nuclear hazards in or potentially affecting their areas. Sparsity Partnership SPARSE is a grouping of the most rural local authorities in England. It is a Special Interest Group of the Local Government Association and has some 90 members, comprising county, district and unitary local authorities. Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities SIGOMA is a campaigning network of urban local authorities, open to all metropolitan districts outside London and to urban unitary councils sharing similar characteristics with existing members.

Central government

Department for Communities and Local Government CLG was created in May 2006 with a powerful remit to promote community cohesion and equality, as well as responsibility for housing, urban regeneration, planning and local government. Adjudication Panel for England The Adjudication Panel for England is an independent judicial tribunal established by the Local Government Act 2000 as a disciplinary body to hear and determine references concerning the conduct of local authority councillors. All Party Urban Development Group The group aims to increase the dialogue between regeneration practitioners and Parliamentarians in order to educate MPs and Peers and to raise the profile of development and physical regeneration issues within Parliament. Audit Commission With commissioners appointed by CLG, the Audit Commission is an independent public body responsible for ensuring that public money is spent economically, efficiently and effectively, in the areas of local government,  housing,  health,  criminal  justice  and  fire  and  rescue services. Boundary Committee for England Established on 1 April 2002, the Boundary Committee is a statutory committee of the Electoral Commission and has assumed the functions of the Local Government Commission for England. It is responsible for recommendations for changes to local authority electoral arrangements and their implementation. Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment CABE is the government’s adviser on architecture, urban design and public space, established in 1999 and now funded by DCMS/CLG. Commission for Social Care Inspection Launched in April 2004, the CSCI is the single independent inspectorate for all social care services in England. Home and Communities Agency The Homes and Communities Agency is the national housing and regeneration delivery agency for England, set up to replace English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation from December 2008. Local Better Regulation Office The Local Better Regulation Office (LBRO) was set up as a government-owned company in May 2007 to help local authorities improve the way they enforce trading standards, environmental health, licensing and fire safety regulations. Local Government Ombudsmen The Local Government Ombudsmen investigate complaints of injustice arising from maladministration by local authorities and certain other bodies. There are three Local Government Ombudsmen in England and they each deal with complaints from different parts of the country. Office for Standards in Education The inspectorate for children and learners in England, Ofsted was created in 1993 as the reconstituted Office of HM Chief Inspector of Schools. Public Works Loan Board The Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) is a statutory body operating within the United Kingdom Debt Management Office, an Executive Agency of HM Treasury.  PWLB's function is to lend money from the National Loans Fund to local authorities and other prescribed bodies, and to collect the repayments. Standards Board for England The Standards Board for England helps build confidence in local democracy. It does so by promoting the ethical behaviour of members and co-opted members who serve on a range of authorities through receiving and investigating allegations that members may have breached the code of conduct.

Institutes and chartered institutes

Chartered Institute of Environmental Health Founded in 1883 as the Association of Public Sanitary Inspectors, the institute regulates the profession as well as contributing to the development of policy around public health and safety. Chartered Institute of Housing Formed as the Institute of Housing Managers from a merger of the Society of Housing Managers and the Institute of Housing in 1965, what became the Institute of Housing in 1974 received its Royal Charter in 1984 and changed its name to the Chartered Institute of Housing in 1994. It is the professional body for those working in public and social housing. Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals The institute was formed in 2002 from the merger of the Library Association and the Institute of Information Scientists. It regards itself as the leading professional body for librarians, information specialists and knowledge managers working across the public sector. Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy CIPFA works across the public sector to govern the public accountancy profession and contribute to the development of policy, working with the government on a range of financial issues. Chartered Institution of Wastes Management The CIWM is the professional body for waste and resource management. Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management ILAM is the professional body for the leisure industry and represents the interests of leisure managers across all sectors and specialisms of leisure. Institute of Place Management A not-for profit, membership organisation, IPM is the international professional body that supports people committed to developing, managing and making places better. It aims to support and develop the profession of place management. Institute of Public Rights of Way Management Established in 1986, IPROW is the professional body that represents individuals who are involved in the management of public rights of way in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation The IRRV exists to support the professional and personal development and the sharing of best practice of those working in its three fields. Institute of Sport and Recreation Management Formed as the Association of Bath Superintendents in 1921 and subsequently the Institute of Baths and Recreation Management, the ISRM supervises the professional conduct and development of those working in sports and leisure on behalf of local authorities. Institution of Civil Engineers The Institution of Civil Engineers was founded in 1828 and represents the interests of professionals working in the built environment. Royal Town Planning Institute The RTPI exists to advance the science and art of town planning for the benefit of the public. Trading Standards Institute The TSI (formerly the Institute of Trading Standards Administration) is a professional association formed in 1881. It represents trading standards professionals in the UK and overseas, in local authorities, in the business and consumer sectors and in central government.

Associations and societies

Association of Council Secretaries and Solicitors ACSeS is the professional body representing those chief officers and their deputies (in principal local authorities in England and Wales) who are responsible for the management of legal and administrative functions. It came into being in 1996 with the merging of the Association of District Secretaries and the Society of Council Secretaries. Association of Directors of Social Services The ADSS represents all the directors of adults’ social services and directors of children’s services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Association of Electoral Administrators Founded in 1987, the association was set up as the professional body to represent the interests of electoral administrators in the United Kingdom. Association of Local Authority Risk Managers ALARM is the national forum for risk management in the public sector, involving local government, the police service, fire and rescue services, water authorities, probation service, universities, housing associations, health authorities and National Parks. Association of Local Government Information Specialists ALGIS is the organisation for anyone working with local government information. Association of Town Centre Management The ATCM is the leading organisation in Europe concerned with managing and improving town and city centres. Bar Association of Local Government and the Public Service The BALGPS is a direct successor of the Society of Local Government Barristers, which had been in existence since about 1945, and of the Bar Association for Local Government, which had been formed in 1977. British Association of Social Workers The BASW is the largest association representing social work and social workers in the UK. Chief Culture and Leisure Officers Association The  professional  body  for  directors  and  senior  managers  of  local authority leisure and cultural services. Chief Economic Development Officers’ Society CEDOS provides a forum for Economic Development professionals working for upper tier Local Authorities in England to meet, network and exchange best practice. Coroner’s Officer Association The Coroner’s Officers Association (COA) was formed in November 1997 when a number of like-minded Coroner's Officers from across the country got together to discuss the problems faced in their daily tasks. County Surveyors’ Society Established in 1885, the CSS is the national body for those engaged in surveying, transportation studies, traffic management and road safety. LG Communications LG Communications (formerly the Society of County and Unitary Public Relations Officers) represents local authority public relations and communications teams across the United Kingdom. Local Authority Investigation Officers Group LAIOG aims to provide its members with access to information relative to their field of work, provide an up to date communication network, disseminate information quickly and effectively and to represent them locally and nationally on policy, training and various legislative issues. Planning Officers Society The POS was formed in April 1997 by the amalgamation of the former County Planning Officers Society, the District Planning Officers Society and the Metropolitan Planning Officers Society. Public Sector People Managers’ Association Formerly the Society of Personnel Officers, the PPMA is the organisation which represents and serves the professional interests of its public sector people management members, providing them with continuing professional development, knowledge and information, a network/forum - and advice for raising professional standards in people management. Society of Chief Librarians The SCL is a professional association made up of the chief librarians of each library authority in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Society of County Treasurers The SCT comprises of all county council chief financial officers. Society of Information Technology Management SocITM was founded in 1986 as the professional association for ICT managers working in and for the public sector. Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers SOLACE is the representative body for senior strategic managers working in local government. It promotes effective local government and provides professional development for its members. Solicitors in Local Government SLG is a professional association which represents the 4,000 local government solicitors and trainees in England and Wales. Women’s Local Government Society WLGS aims to raise the profile of past, present and future achievements of elected women in Local Government and secure a greater representation of elected women in Local Government in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland through positive action, promotion, support, mentoring and lobbying.

Regional government and city regions

Association of Regional Observatories ARO aims to add value to the work of England’s regional observatories by promoting collaboration, and communicating their contribution to the shared aim of supporting evidence-based policy-making. Core Cities Comprising Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield, the Core Cities group represents England’s eight provincial capitals in discussions with government and policy makers. England’s Regional Development Agencies The national secretariat of England’s regional development agencies. Northern Way Led by three regional development agencies, the Northern Way aims to connect the north’s eight city regions to bring about economic prosperity for their people. Passenger Transport Executive Group PTEG  represents  the  six  passenger  transport  executives  of  Greater Manchester,  Merseyside,  South  Yorkshire,  Tyne  &  Wear,  West Midlands and West Yorkshire. Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and Transport for London are associate members.

Think tanks

Association of Public Service Excellence APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) is a not for profit local government body working with over 300 councils throughout the UK. Centre for Cities The Centre for Cities is an independent urban policy research unit which looks at how UK cities function. Centre for Local Economic Strategies CLES is an independent organisation involved in regeneration, local economic development and local governance.  It brings together a network of organisations, including regeneration partnerships, local authorities, regional bodies, community groups and voluntary organisations. European Services Strategy Unit The European Services Strategy Unit (continuing the work of the Centre for Public Services) is an independent organisation, founded in 1973. GreenSpace GreenSpace is a registered charity set up to help those committed to the planning, design, management and use of public parks and open spaces. Living Streets Living Streets are champions of streets and public spaces for people on foot, working on practical projects to create safe, vibrant and healthy streets for all. Localis Localis aims to influence policy makers and thinkers outside the local government village in clear, jargon-free language.  At a time when the great bulk of local authorities are conservative and when existing local government think tanks veer to the left, Localis offers a fresh and distinctive approach based on close links with Policy Exchange. Local Government Information Unit The LGIU is an independent policy and research think tank. It provides information, advice, training and lobbying, representing the interests of local authorities and supporting them in delivering excellent results for their communities. New Local Government Network The NLGN was founded in 1996 by a small group of senior local government figures whose stated aim was to make local government more relevant and credible to local people. A non-profit-making, independent think tank, the NLGN seeks to transform public services, revitalise local political leadership and empower local communities. Office for Public Management The OPM is an independent, not-for-profit, public interest company, working with people to develop high quality management, professional practice and public engagement in organisations that aim to improve social results. Public Management and Policy Association The PMPA has been successfully helping managers, policy makers and academics keep in touch with and understand the wider cross-cutting developments in public policy making that affect the governance, general and financial management of public services since June 1998. Town and Country Planning Association The TCPA is an independent campaigning charity calling for more integrated planning based on the principles of accessibility, sustainability, diversity, and community cohesion. It puts social justice and the environment at the heart of the debate about planning policy, housing and energy supply.

International

Assembly of European Regions The Assembly of European Regions (established 1985) is the largest independent network of regions in the wider Europe. Cities Alliance Cities Alliance is a global coalition of cities and their development partners committed to scaling up successful approaches to poverty reduction. CIVITAS The CIVITAS Initiative helps cities to achieve a more sustainable, clean and energy efficient urban transport system by implementing and evaluating an ambitious, integrated set of technology and policy based measures. Committee of the Regions The Committee of the Regions (CoR) is the political assembly that provides local and regional authorities with a voice at the heart of the European Union. Commonwealth Local Government Forum The CLGF was founded in 1995 as a focus for action on local democracy in the Commonwealth and was endorsed by Commonwealth heads of government at their meeting in New Zealand that year. Conference of Atlantic Arc Cities Representatives of cities from Europe’s Atlantic coast wishing to develop an area of solidarity and projects. Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies The CALRE is the conference of chairmen of the legislative federal state parliaments of Europe. Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities The Conference of Local Authorities of Europe was created within the Council in 1957.  In 1994 the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities succeeded the Conference as a Council of Europe consultative body. Council of European Municipalities and Regions The Council of European Municipalities was founded in Geneva in 1951 by a group of European mayors; later, it opened its ranks to the regions and became the CEMR. Eurocities Founded in 1996, Eurocities is a network of more than 120 large cities in more than thirty European countries. European Association of Development Agencies EURADA gathers around 150 development agencies from 25 countries, mainly from the European Union. International Centre of Excellence for Local e-Democracy ICELE is a sustainable, UK-based centre with strong international backing from eDemocracy experts in the public, private and non-governmental sectors. International City/County Management Association ICMA is the premier local government leadership and management organization. Its mission is to create excellence in local governance by advocating and developing the professional management of local government worldwide. International Institute of Municipal Clerks Founded in 1947, the International Institute of Municipal Clerks is the leading professional association serving the needs of Municipal Clerks, Secretaries, Treasurers and Recorders and other allied associations from cities and towns worldwide. Metropolis Metropolis is the World Association of Major Metropolises. Metropolis is also the metropolitan section of the United Cities & Local Government organization (UCLG), which arose from the merger between the IULA and UTO. Sister Cities International Sister Cities International is a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between U.S. and international communities. Union des Dirigeants Territoriaux de l’Europe UDITE aims to promote relations among the various professional associations representing the European local authorities, to develop exchange flows, to share professional experiences, to contribute to the valorisation of roles and functions of local authorities, to contribute to the European Union. United Cities and Local Governments UCLG aims to be the united voice and world advocate of democratic local self-government, promoting its values, objectives and interests, through co-operation between local governments, and within the wider international community.

Academic

Cardiff School of City and Regional Planning Centre for the Study of Cities and Regions, Durham University Centre for Local and Regional Government Research, Cardiff University Centre for Local Governance, University of Manchester Centre for Suburban Studies, Kingston University (fass.kingston. ac.uk/research/centres/suburban_studies/index.shtml) Centre for Urban and Community Research, Goldsmiths, University of London Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies, University of Newcastle upon Tyne Centre for Urban and Regional Governance, University of Westminster Centre for Urban Policy Studies, University of Manchester Centre for Urban Research, London School of Economics Cities Institute, London Metropolitan University Cities Research Centre, University of the West of England Institute of Local Government Studies, University of Birmingham Institute for Political and Economic Governance, University of Manchester Local Economy Policy Unit, London South Bank University Regional Studies Association

Media

First Local Government Chronicle MJ New Start Planning and Regeneration & Renewal