Bromsgrove District councillors have received a ‘glowing’ progress report on the council’s work in response to a recent evaluation.
At the council’s request, a team of senior local government peers gathered in Bromsgrove to scrutinise the work of the local authority and make improvement recommendations.
The council received a follow up report, at Wednesday’s (January 24) meeting, based on actions it has taken since the recommendations were made. The report has also been made publicly available.
The peer challenge saw an eight-strong team of ‘critical friends’ speak to 130 council staff, members, and partners over 55 meetings in 2023, to produce detailed recommendations on what the council does well, and what it could do better, to achieve its goals.
Councillor Sue Baxter, Deputy Leader of Bromsgrove District Council, said: “This glowing report highlights just how much the council has delivered and continues to deliver on the recommendations we received last year.
“There’s still work to be done of course, but you only need to look at the council chamber itself to see how members from across the political spectrum are more energised than at any time in recent memory.
“Having independent experts bring a critical perspective to what we are trying to do is helping us to deliver the best for our residents.”
The report found a financially stable council whose vision and priorities were informed by local context.
It made recommendations on aligning the council’s service delivery to its strategic priorities, its democratic culture, its organisational strategies, and its financial processes.
The follow up report noted the council’s ‘aspirational and forward thinking’ strategic vision and ‘clear priorities’ could ‘inject confidence and positivity’ into the district.
Improvements were noted in the council’s decision making, which is now regarded as more democratic following recommendations in this area.
The council also ‘appears to be on track’ on the ‘Section 24’ financial management recommendations issued by the council’s auditor, with the peers encouraging the council to ensure the ongoing work is sustained and robust.
Chief executive, of Bromsgrove District and Reddith Borough Council’s Sue Hanley said: “For any organisation advice of this quality, from people this experienced, following such a comprehensive piece of work, is worth its weight in gold, and I’d like to thank the peers and the Local Government Association for their time and support.
“The action plan based on the key recommendations continues to drive some really positive changes at the heart of the council and its operations, all of which helps us in our work to deliver the council’s vision.”
Visit www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/cpc to read the report.
