As Scotland goes to the polls today, it is still unclear which way the vote wil go. Whatever happens, the issue of devolution of powers and responsibilities from Whitehall is now firmly established as a political priority for all parties. The question for local government is who will be in the lead position to negotiate these fundamental changes nationally and locally, so it's a good time to have a look at the political personalities who could be shaping the future of local politics. Dave Sparks, as the new chair of the Local Government Association (LGA), comes into the role with considerable experience and a great deal of goodwill. He also benefits from a good legacy from his predecessor, Sir Merrick Cockell. The difficulty will be steering the LGA through the stormy waters that occur in the run-up to any General Election.
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