ALL 52 district, borough and county councils in the East of England have been brought together in a new lobbying body.

The East of England Local Government Association, under the chairmanship of Hertfordshire County Council leader Robert Gordon, will speak up for the people of the region, ensuring their voice is heard in the Government and Civil Service, and provide a range of services to local authorities.

It will also have a formal statutary role in strategic planning and economic development. Councillor Gordon said: “We all know that the next few years are bound to bring substantial challenges for local government, particularly with the anticipated constraints on public spending. "I want the regional association to be a forum through which its members can identify and share best practice for the benefit of the people and communities we all serve.

“It will concentrate its work in areas where, by working together, we can add value for our member councils and it will speak up for the people and communities we represent, ensuring that local government has an effective voice. “As the first chairman of the association, I look forward to working with councils of all political parties and none, in promoting and enhancing our role as the democratic voice of the region."