Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE MANAGING DIRECTOR

The Council recently undertook a Corporate Peer Challenge (CPC) between 4 and 7 November 2024, where we were visited by a peer team supported by the Local Government Association. The peer team met with a large number of staff and councillors, as well as external stakeholders such as contractual partners, neighbouring authorities and members of our community. The peer team produced a feedback report, which was reported to Cabinet on 14 January 2025. An Action Plan has now been developed, attached at Appendix A.

RESOLVED: That the Corporate Peer Challenge Action Plan was approved.

REASON FOR DECISION: 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 hours 26 minutes 54 seconds

In the absence of the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Tom Tyson as Vice-Chair presented the referral on this item. Councillor Tyson advised that the discussion had been around concerns of the action plan being turned into a smart objective.

The Managing Director presented the reported entitled ‘Corporate Peer Challenge Action Plan’ and advised that:

·       The corporate peers had advised in their review that specific actions should be set with specific timelines.

·       This item could go back to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in six months’ time to review its progress against the action plan.

·       There needed to be ongoing discussions between the leadership team and Cabinet to ensure the correct prioritisation of items. 

·       The Local Government Association (LGA) required the Council to publish its action plan within three months of the review.

Councillor Mick Debenham proposed and Councillor Ian Albert seconded and, following a vote, it was:

RESOLVED: That the Corporate Peer Challenge Action Plan was approved.

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

N.B. There was a break in proceedings following this item and the meeting reconvened at 21:15