Peer Review
To receive an update on the Peer Review process.
Minutes:
The Committee was given an update in respect of the Local Government Association (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge which the Council had undertaken in October 2014.
The 2014 Peer Challenge had identified 15 recommendations for the Council and the progress made towards achieving these had been reviewed by an LGA follow up visit in December 2015. The Review Team commended the work of the Council to implement the recommendations identified in 2014 and noted in particular the enthusiasm with which Council staff had engaged with the process. Particular areas of note for the Review Team included: the development of the Wider Management Team and the investment that staff had in the organisation, the development of a revised Town Centre Plan and the development of a strategic approach to property acquisition through the Council’s Investment Strategy.
The Committee stressed that recommendations to develop an effective Overview and Scrutiny function and to increase the community leadership function of councillors were ones that could only be taken forward by members. It was therefore essential that all members were encouraged to develop these areas.
The Committee noted the update.