This report includes the detailed report setting out the findings and recommendations from the Local Government Association Corporate Peer Challenge and the Action Plan developed in response.

Charlie Stewart, interim Executive Director of Resources, presented a report introducing the findings from the Local Government Association (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge that had taken place in June 2022. The following documents were appended to the report:

• LGA Peer Challenge – Final Report (Appendix 1)
• Action Plan (Appendix 2)

The Corporate Peer Review had been carried out at the Council’s request by a team of six experienced peers from different councils and organisations. The Peer Team had conducted onsite interviews and had held focus group discussions with Council members, staff and partners. 

The Peer Team’s initial feedback had been presented to Members and senior officers on 16 June 2022 and the Final Report had been received from the LGA on 23 September 2022.  An action plan had been developed in response to the LGA’s findings and the Corporate Management Team was overseeing its delivery and was currently reviewing the plan.  The LGA had offered a return revisit to the Council for a ‘check-in’ session, with this providing the opportunity for the Council’s senior leadership to update peers on its progress against the related improvement planning and discuss next steps.

Resolved:

(1)          That the LGA Corporate Peer Challenge Final Report, as attached to the report at Appendix 1, be noted;

(2)          That the Action Plan, as attached to the report at Appendix 2, would be the mechanism for implementing the recommendations within the Final Report, be noted;

(3)          That the positive comments about the former Chief Executive and staff at the Council as set out in Section 4 the LGA’s Report be endorsed.