Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has decided to withdraw from the Local Government Association, ending its membership and saving local taxpayers up to £17,200 each year. The decision marks the end of annual membership fees, conference trips, and hotel stays that have been funded by residents' money. Over the past four years, Newcastle Under Lyme spent £65,700 on LGA fees and attendance costs.
Council leader Jonathan Gullis criticised the Local Government Association as a "talking shop" that protects "the political class, not the public." He highlighted concerns about the Westminster-based organisation's spending, pointing to its "rooftop bar" while councils across the country fork out millions annually.
Deputy leader Graham Shaw backed the decision, stating that the cash should be spent "here in the borough" instead of funding a disconnected establishment. Nationally, councils collectively pay around £11 million every year to the LGA. The organisation's own figures show that more than a quarter of members are not satisfied with its work.
For Newcastle Under Lyme residents, this withdrawal means council resources will be redirected locally rather than spent on national membership organisations. The £17,200 annual saving represents funding that can now be allocated to services within the borough.