The LGA Independent Group supports its members through a network of member peers who are experienced councillors. Our member peers work directly with our members and also through the LGA to support council improvement and continuous performance.
Peer challenge and peer support are fundamental parts of our offer to support self-regulation and sector-led improvement.
Member peers are accredited and trained to support councils and their councillors with their improvement and learning by providing a 'practitioner perspective and 'critical friend' challenge.
Our network of national and regional lead peers are available for our members to contact to discuss issues they are experiencing as a councillor and/or with their council. In addition to our national and regional lead peers, we have experienced members peers from across the country with a range of interests and experiences who offer mentoring, peer challenge as part of the LGA’s Corporate Peer Challenge and other support to our members, organised through the LGA Independent Group Office.
The LGA Independent Group and its network of peers cannot give legal advice and we do not have legal support to offer our members. If you are members of a smaller political party or the Independent Network, please speak to your association or network. We recommend you speak with your Monitoring Officer in the first instance with any legal query you may have.
Cllr Adam Paynter is currently the deputy leader of the opposition and shadow cabinet member for customers at Cornwall Council. Adam has been a member of the council since its inception in 2009 and previous to that was a member of Cornwall County Council for 8 years. Adam has held many positions in the council including leader and cabinet member for environment and heritage and resources.
Adam studied agriculture at degree level and works on his family’s farm, whilst also diversifying the farm into renewable energy ventures. He enjoys many sports both playing and watching. He is a keen festival attender and attends both Glastonbury and Reading music festivals volunteering for a medical charity.
“Peer work is really important for me to help councils and councillors improve and make their residents lives better”
"I have been a Green Party Councillor in Kirklees for the last 25 years. I am a Group Leader, have been a Cabinet member and a Scrutiny Panel Chair.
"I have also been a Council officer, for a number of years, in different local authorities and so can offer that perspective as well as that of an elected member.
"I enjoy learning about other councils and how they operate and sharing my own experience of working cross party in a no overall control administration for many years. All Councils are different in some ways and it is those differences that give us most opportunities to learn."
Cllr Hannah Dalton
Councillor Hannah Dalton has been a Residents’ Association councillor on Epsom and Ewell Borough Council since 2015. Hannah is currently Leader of the Residents’ Association Majority Group who are in administration. In this capacity Hannah is our Group’s Vice Chair on the Executive Boards of the District Councils’ Network and South East Councils.
“I am thrilled to have been appointed the Regional Peer for London and the South East and I am looking forward to working with colleagues across the region and the Regional Peer Team.”
“At a time when local government is under increasing financial pressure and external scrutiny, it is critical that as a sector we seek opportunities to improve and hold ourselves to account”.
“I have been the Lead Member Peer for three CPCs, delivered several bespoke member workshops, been a Peer Mentor as well as delivered LGA workshops. I enjoy meeting colleagues from different councils, taking time to understand the challenges and working with them to find practical solutions”.
“As a passionate advocate of the LGA's Peer and Improvement work and I firmly believe that through the member peer network, the LGA demonstrates best value and through the principle of ‘by the sector, for the sector’ it enables members and member councils to innovate and share best practice”.
Georgina Hill is an Independent Councillor on Northumberland County Council and Independent Regional Lead Peer covering the North East, Yorkshire and Humber area.
A qualified barrister and communications specialist with significant experience within the political world.
She is passionate about openness and transparency. She says; “Local Government can run smoothly if, and only if you have good governance. It is also really important to constantly have at the forefront of your mind that you are a public servant.”
On the Peer and Mentoring work, she adds; “This is such a valuable process - to share your knowledge and experience in an entirely impartial and non-judgmental way to help others within the sector. The Peer process also broadens your own perspective as you learn things and pick up new ideas with every conversation”.
Councillor Jo Beavis was first elected in 2003 and has served continuously at Braintree District Council for 20 years. She is the Leader of the main opposition group at the council. Councillor Jo Beavis has been a councillor at Essex County Council and served in both Cabinet Offices.
"I am the Lead Regional Peer for the Eastern Region. Being an Independent Lead Peer at the LGA is a privilege. It is a busy role, and I actively support Independent councillors across the east of England, including the Midlands. I have supported council leaders, cabinet members and backbench/front-line councillors in their roles as local leaders. The role is about communicating the benefits and opportunities of sector-led improvement to help councillors and councils improve and develop."
Councillor Jo helped to launch, support and promote Civility in Public Life - the Debate not Hate campaign. "I would encourage all councillors to sign up for this campaign. I enjoy every aspect of working with councillors. Also, I wholeheartedly encourage councillors in the Eastern Region to contact me if you require advice, support and guidance to help develop your roles or to find out more about how the LGA can help you."
"I was first elected as a councillor in 2003 and have been leader of the independent group within the council for most of that time. I have been a member of most Committees with Planning and Overview and Scrutiny being my main areas of interest. Following the election in May 2023 and the formation of a coalition administration I have taken up the roles of deputy leader and portfolio holder for Economic development and regeneration. For me, every day is a school day and being a member peer gives me the opportunity to learn from and to share knowledge and experience helping to deliver best practice throughout the local government sector."
“I’ve been an LGA peer for over eight years now and have thoroughly enjoyed the many assignments that I have undertaken. My background is unusual, in that I am CIPFA qualified and spent many years as a local government Officer, including four years as a District Council s.151 Officer and nine years as a Chief Executive.
"I was first elected as an Independent Cornwall Councillor for Penzance in May 2013 and am still here eleven years later!
"During this time I’ve Chaired two major Scrutiny Committees, spent almost three years as the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Care and served as the Chair of Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust for almost eighteen months.
"To date I’ve participated in fourteen Peer Reviews (including one of the LGA itself), eight mentoring assignments and a range of LGA workshops … I can honestly say that whilst every one has been different, they have all been thoroughly worthwhile, as has meeting so many talented local government professionals and elected members … I have certainly learned at least as much as I’ve contributed!
"If you have an enquiring mind, relevant experience and are a good listener then you could well be the next Independent Peer – good luck if you apply!”
Cllr Zoe Nicholson has been a Green Leader of a District Council for over five years and she really enjoys supporting Greens and Independents across the country, being a listening ear and enabling leaders, cabinet members and councillors to find solutions to their problems.
"Mentoring for me is a two-way process that supports my learning of these amazing dedicated and talented councillors and leaders of their community."
