Council’s response to review impresses

Independent experts have praised the way Redditch Borough Council has acted in response to a recent evaluation.

A local government ‘peer challenge’ held at the council’s request last year saw senior people from across the country and political spectrum gather in Redditch, to scrutinise the authority’s workings and make recommendations for improvement.

The eight-strong team of ‘critical friends’ spoke to 130 council staff, members, and partners over 55 meetings to produce detailed recommendations on what the council does well, and what it could do better, to achieve its goals.

The resulting report found a financially stable council working well on its ambitious plans for Redditch in a challenging climate, and made recommendations on how and where it could improve.

The main recommendations were on the council’s community engagement in decision making, its organisational strategies, and its financial processes, and took into account its shared services with Bromsgrove District Council which was also part of the review.

The followup report on what the council has since done on those recommendations was received at Monday’s (Jan 29) council meeting and has been published.

Cllr Matt Dormer, Leader of Redditch Borough Council, said: “As the original report detailed, the recommendations have been fairly challenging to deliver. We had some serious feedback which members and officers have listened to and acted on and there is still plenty to be do. But we are delighted to have had a wide-ranging, politically-mixed, independent team of experts in our sector have a good hard look under the bonnet and find a council that’s able to deliver on our ambitious vision.

“Ambitious plans take real work. Not just to secure and deliver the £15m Town Deal boost for Redditch town centre, but across the council. We’re working in new, groundbreaking partnerships to ensure our local public services that people value so much don’t age into obsolescence, but continue to have a bright future. We’ve built new council homes, providing more-affordable rent for families that need it. And we’re doing all this in ways that protect our taxpayers. It takes a strong organisation to deliver this and this high quality feedback is helping.”

The report noted:

• Impressive progress on governance and constitutional matters helping to improve decision-making
• To review processes so that councillors receive comprehensive, accurate, timely information, and to improve and clarify member-officer relationships
• A strong sense of purpose and direction at the senior level
• New and improved workforce and workplace strategies for staffing and service delivery
• That the council ‘appears to be on track’ on progress on resolving the ‘Section 24’ financial management recommendations issued by auditors - with the peers encouraging the council to ensure that ongoing work on it is sustained and robust.
• Good working arrangements with Bromsgrove District Council.

Chief Executive 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.”

For the original report and its followup, click here.