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Issue - meetings

LGA Corporate Peer Challenge Progress Review

 

 

Meeting: 16/07/2025 - Council (Item 29)

29 LGA Corporate Peer Challenge Progress Review pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Purpose

To consider the Local Government Association Corporate Peer Challenge Progress Report 2024

 

Recommendation(s)

That Council resolves to NOTE the report at Annex A

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The purpose of the report was to ask Council to consider and note the Local Government  Association (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge Progress report 2024.

 

The report was introduced by Councillor Mike Evemy, Leader of the Council.

Council was asked to consider the LGA Corporate Peer Challenge Progress Review, which followed the original challenge in October 2022 and a delayed follow-up visit in November 2023, postponed to allow for the transition of staff from Publica back to the Council.

The review, tabled as an annex to the report, was initially received in draft form in January 2025 but was not brought to the March Council due to timing constraints.

The feedback commended the Council’s strengthened governance and clear understanding of its financial position, while encouraging the development of robust plans to close potential budget gaps. It also referenced the first phase of the Publica transition and the context of potential local government reorganisation, which influenced the Council’s decisions in March 2024 regarding Phase II of the Publica transition. The review emphasised the importance of defining leadership, operational style, and organisational culture as the Council rebuilt its in-house team. The Leader expressed gratitude to the peer review team and confirmed that the Interim Chief Executive was now leading work on organisational culture and staff integration.

 

There were no questions for clarity.

 

The Chair then moved to the debate.

 

Members discussed the LGA Corporate Peer Challenge Progress Review, noting improvements in governance, transparency, and scrutiny processes, with the Constitution updated and recommendations from Overview and Scrutiny being more focused. Concerns were raised about the significant budget gap and the need for robust financial plans, particularly following the transition of services from Publica. It was highlighted that while the review was valuable, some elements were now outdated due to changes including Phase II of the Publica transition, the publication of the LGR White Paper, and the appointment of a new Leader, Chief Executive, and Cabinet.

Members stressed the importance of addressing organisational culture, staff engagement, and preparing for local government reorganisation.  Progress made under the current administration was praised, emphasising improvements in governance, financial management, staff culture, and public trust, while acknowledging that further work remained to be done.

 

There was no further debate.

 

The Chair confirmed that no vote was required as the recommendation was  that Council resolved to note the report at Annex A.

 

RESOLVED that Council NOTED the LGA Corporate Peer Challenge Progress report 2024.

Meeting: 10/07/2025 - Cabinet (Item 111)

111 LGA Corporate Peer Challenge Progress Review pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Purpose

To consider the Local Government Association (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge Progress Report 2024.

 

Recommendation

That Cabinet resolves to NOTE the report at Annex A.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The purpose of the report was to consider the Local Government Association (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge Progress Report 2024.

 

Councillor Mike Evemy introduced the report which was for noting.

 

Cabinet considered the follow-up report from the Local Government Association (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge review, which took place in November 2024, as a follow-up to the original LGA Peer Challenge conducted in October 2022. It was noted that the follow-up had been delayed to allow assessment of changes made after the first phase of the Publica transition to be taken into account. The report was broadly positive, recognising significant progress made by the Council in response to earlier recommendations; particularly in strengthening governance arrangements and enhancing the role and effectiveness of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, under the leadership of the current Chair.

 

It was noted that the peer team also reviewed financial governance during the transition, led by the former portfolio holder, Councillor Mike Evemy, and the Deputy Chief Executive, and provided advice on the second phase of the Publica transition. Cabinet welcomed the staff who formally joined the Council’s employment on 1 July 2025 as part of this second phase.

 

The report also referenced the need to consider organisational change in the context of potential local government reorganisation (LGR). The importance of organisational culture was highlighted, as was ongoing work on a new People and Culture Strategy. It was noted that the report would be presented for full discussion at Council the following week, and no decision was required at this meeting.

 

It was observed that the Overview and Scrutiny function had significantly improved in recent years, noting a marked contrast with its effectiveness a decade ago. The current Chair of Overview and Scrutiny, Councillor Gina Blomefield, was praised for their integral role in this progress and the positive impact of the constitutional provision allowing the opposition to hold the position was acknowledged. The contribution of the former Vice Chair, Gary Selwyn, was also recognised, highlighting the strength of the cross-party leadership.

 

RESOLVED that Cabinet NOTED the report.

 

 

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