Issue - meetings

(i)     That the Local Government Association’s Corporate Peer Challenge report on Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council, be received.

(ii)    That the Action Plan prepared in response to the LGA’s recommendations, be approved and regular reports be brought to Cabinet on their progress

(iii)   That Full Council receive a presentation at its next meeting, delivered by the Peer Review team.

The Leader introduced the Local Government Act Corporate Peer Challenge report consisting of a review and recommendations issued by councillors and officers from other local authorities. The inspection drew out some key points of which: strong financial management and stability; successful redesign of the delivery of services in the aftermath of the pandemic in terms of innovation, modernisation and Council saving plans; extreme positive feedback on the staff and tireless work undertaken on notably Walleys Quarry.

Mentioning the action plan which would be monitored going forward the Leader expressed his satisfaction over a reignited Council and thanked both members and officers for all their work. The review had also given good feedback on the future plans with regards to the regeneration of the Town Centre as well as ways to improve these in terms of medium term financial strategy.

Cabinet members expressed the following comments:

- Cllr Sweeney was pleased that the review highlighted the good financial management and said that there was also a recurring theme of functioning partnerships with everybody working together; the Leader followed up by quoting the Vulnerability Hub which was a good example of that.

- Cllr Fear wished to echo the Leader and said the report’s conclusions should be taken seriously; overall good relationships within the Council were to be praised with employees feeling they could voice their opinion and members able to engage with the process; the Leader commented that staff were signed up for the regeneration agenda and going the extra mile as required.

- Cllr Hutchison highlighted a reference to the availability of both the Chief Executive and the Leader, which was valued by the Council staff and all partners; the Leader thanked Cllr Hutchison for his kind words.

Resolved:

(i)     That the Local Government Association’s Corporate Peer Challenge report on Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, be received.

(ii)    That the Action Plan prepared in response to the LGA’s recommendations be approved and regular reports be brought to Cabinet on their progress.

(iii)   That Full Council receive a presentation at its next meeting, delivered by the Peer Review team.

Watch the debate here