UPDATE: Margaret Eaton on LGA role

Margaret Eaton

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Margaret Eaton has told LGC she will stand up to the Conservatives' big beasts after becoming the first female chair of the Local Government Association.

Cllr Eaton (Con) was formally elected to the post following the endorsement of the leaders of the Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and Independent groups.

Afterwards, she said: "The LGA is the national voice for local government and I am committed to ensuring that we can help every council across the country to be free from central control and financed to deliver the best services for local people at the right cost to the taxpayer."

Sir Jeremy Beecham, Leader of the LGA Labour Group, said "The LGA is in good hands with Margaret, who I know will do the right thing for councils. I look forward to a new national voice for the association that is constructive yet challenging and inclusive yet bold.

"I am reassured that Margaret's involvement to date in the LGA Group's restructuring plans, demonstrates that this period of significant change will be strongly member-led, and will create a powerful, cross-party organisation fit for the future."

Earlier, Cllr Eaton spoke to LGC following her overwhelming 53% share of the vote in a five-way contest and called on the Tory leadership to put councils at the heart of its commitment to localism.

Asked about potential confrontation with the likes of party leader David Cameron and shadow communities secretary Eric Pickles , Cllr Eaton replied: "Everybody talks about localism, but I'm not terribly clear what that commitment to localism actually means on the ground. I want to be very clear that localism is about local democracy and the role of local government."

Referring to Tory plans to introduce directly elected sheriffs or police commissioners, she said: "I would be concerned if this was about bypassing local government. We need to be very clear about the role of local government in every party's manifesto."

Tim Palmer (Con), chairman of the County Councils Network, said: "Margaret will need to make absolutely sure an incoming Conservative administration puts its money where its mouth is and reflects the principles of localism."

Andy Sawford, chief executive of the Local Government Information Unit thinktank, said influencing a Tory local government white paper due this month should be Cllr Eaton's immediate priority. "This means making sure there is a firm commitment about changing the balance of funding ready for legislation right from day one," he said.

However, Cllr Eaton indicated pursuing radical council finance reform was unlikely to be top of her agenda.

"I don't think anybody would want to see council tax scrapped. There are things that councils can do within the system," she said.

Mr Pickles, who was at Bradford City MDC with Cllr Eaton, said: "I have no doubt that Margaret will prove to be a fearless champion for local government, and the residents it represents."

In the ballot of Tory leaders and group leaders weighted according to council size, Cllr Eaton, with 2,042 votes, triumphed over Oxfordshire CC leader Keith Mitchell, who won 859.

Tandridge DC leader Gordon Keymer gained 369, Sunderland City Council Tory group leader Lee Martin 207 and East Riding of Yorkshire Council leader Stephen Parnaby 98 votes.

As the largest party in local government, the Tories automatically elected the new chair. Cllr Eaton replaces Sir Simon Milton who has become a deputy of London mayor Boris Johnson .