Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – LEGAL & COMMUNITY

In 2020 the LGA Corporate Peer Challenge (CPC) undertook a review, the review report and Action Plan were agreed through Cabinet on 24 March 2020 and 23 June 2020, respectively. A follow up review was undertaken by (different) LGA CPC Peers during 2022 and a further LGA Peer Committee Support report was issued in January 2023 (Appendix A). This concentrated on the Overview & Scrutiny and Finance, Audit and Risk Committees and a number of further recommendations have been made. These have been separated out into the Action Plan (Appendix B) with response and proposed actions for the Committees consideration and recommendations to Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

(1)   That the content of the CPC report was noted.

(2)   That the draft Action Plan at Appendix A was considered, and proposed action was recommended to Cabinet for approval (as per Appendix A or as amended, with relevant Overview & Scrutiny recommendation timescales).

(3)   That, in the absence of timescales, these be set by the Leader, Deputy Leader and Managing Director (in consultation with relevant Committee Chairs and Vice-Chairs).

REASON FOR DECISIONS: To ensure that the Council responds to the matters identified within the CPC report, ensuring that the benefits of the CPC process are realised.

Audio recording – 1:03:52

N.B. This item was considered after Agenda Items 16, 9 and 10.

Councillor Elizabeth Dennis presented the report entitled ‘Corporate Peer Challenge Report & Action Plan’ and advised:

·         The Local Government Association (LGA) had conducted Peer Review of the Overview and Scrutiny and Finance, Audit and Risk Committees.

·         Due to the all-out elections in 2024, some of the recommendations would be given a longer timescale.

·         As there were no timelines in the action plan, the Leader, Deputy Leader and Managing Director would manage those in consultation with the Committee Chairs.

·         The recommendations in the report would help provide added value and effectiveness to the Committees.

Councillor Elizabeth Dennis, as Chair proposed, Councillor Ruth Brown seconded, and following a vote, it was:

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the content of the CPC report was noted.

(2)  That the draft Action Plan at Appendix A was considered, and proposed action was recommended to Cabinet for approval (as per Appendix A or as amended, with relevant Overview & Scrutiny recommendation timescales).

(3)  That, in the absence of timescales, these be set by the Leader, Deputy Leader and Managing Director (in consultation with relevant Committee Chairs and Vice-Chairs).

REASON FOR DECISIONS: To ensure that the Council responds to the matters identified within the CPC report, ensuring that the benefits of the CPC process are realised.