THE new chief of the Local Government Association has ordered a shake-up after accusations that it is out of touch with its grassroots members.

Paul Coen, the chief executive, has instigated an independent review of the association, which represents more than 400 local authorities and 20,000 councillors, to address members’ concerns.

Richard Kemp, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, admitted that there had been complaints that the association represented only chief executives and council leaders rather than all councillors.

It was accused of pursuing its own agenda and holding private meetings with ministers, but giving little feedback to members.

Mr Kemp said that the association should do less but do it more competently. “We need to organise better research and lobbying and work with members to improve performance.”

A new director of communications and strategy is being recruited to help to improve relations with grassroots members and other bodies.

Sir Jeremy Beecham, leader of the Labour group, also backed the review, which will report in January. He agreed that more grassroots members should feed into policy work. “We are not communicating as effectively as we might. We need to make sure that we are conscious of what members want and what they want to see emerging as public policy.”

He said that there was a need to improve relations with other organisations, such as the CBI.

It also emerged yesterday that both the Labour and Liberal Democrat groups were enraged when a letter to John Reid, the Home Secretary, about the cost of immigrants was leaked to the press.

Mr Kemp said that the letter, written by Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, the Tory chairman of the association, had not been approved by the other parties.

He said that he had complained to Mr Coen and had been assured that, in future, all statements to the press would be approved in advance.

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