Test Valley Borough Council Corporate Peer

Transcript:Test Valley Borough Council Corporate Peer:
Test Valley Borough Council Corporate Peer Challenge Feedback from the peer challenge team Tuesday 19 – Friday 22 November 2024 22 November 2024 Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen, Leader, Breckland Council (Lead Member Peer) Caroline Green, Chief Executive, Oxford City Council (Lead Officer Peer) Mayor Peter Taylor, Leader, Watford Borough Council Deborah Johnson, Director - Customer Services and Organisational Development, Newark and Sherwood District Council Shawn Riley, Head of Economic Development, Wychavon District Council Kyle Evans, Political Officer for the LGA Conservative Group (Shadow) Katharine Goodger, LGA Peer Challenge Manager The peer challenge team A key part of the LGA’s improvement and assurance framework for local government, supporting improvement and assurance. Managed and delivered by the sector, for the sector. Complements your own performance and improvement focus. Assists councils in meeting part of their Best Value duty - UK Government expects councils to have a CPC every five years. Peers used their experience and knowledge of local government to reflect on the information presented to them by people they meet, things they saw and material that they read. The team provide feedback as critical friends, not as assessors, consultants or inspectors. The purpose of a Corporate Peer Challenge (CPC) The CPC process has a strong focus on financial sustainability, performance, governance, and assurance. Peers reviewed a range of information and evidence to ensure we were familiar with the council, the challenges it is facing and its future plans. The peer team gathered information and views from more than 35 meetings, in addition to further research. We spoke to more than 100 people including a range of council staff together with members and external stakeholders. The process of peer challenge We have considered the core components looked at by all corporate peer challenges, namely: Local priorities and outcomes Organisational and place leadership Governance and culture Financial planning and management Capacity for improvement Throughout the above five themes there was a focus on how Test Valley can further embed their place-based approach throughout the organisation. Scope and brief for the peer challenge This is a high performing council, delivering for its residents with a community first approach. There was a strong sense of pride in the council which came across clearly. Many councils aspire to have the culture and community focus we found here, keep doing what you’re doing. Officers and members are happy here, speaking of good relationships, trust and a clear understanding