LGA Governance


Sir Stephen Houghton CBE

Sir Stephen Houghton CBE

Title: Leader of the Council

Party: Labour

Political grouping: Labour

Committee appointments

Additional Information

Stephen Houghton CBE was first elected to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council in 1988, becoming leader in 1996. He became Chair of the Special Interest Group of Metropolitan Authorities (SIGOMA) in 1999. He has also worked as an LGA lead regional peer since 2006.

Cllr Houghton also currently holds positions on the Doncaster Improvement Board, the Wirral Improvement Board and chairs the Barnsley Local Strategic Partnership.

Cllr Houghton led the Central Government Review into the Role of Local Partnerships in Tackling Long-Term Unemployment in 2008 (Houghton Review) and holds a Masters Degree in Local Governance from the University of Birmingham. He was awarded the CBE for services to Local Government in 2004 New Year's Honours List.