A presentation will be given in respect of the action plan developed to respond to the recommendations contained in the Local Government Association’s Corporate Peer Challenge Report 2024.
The action plan will be considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 8th April 2025.
Contact:
Stephen Bonnell – Head of Policy Partnerships and Corporate Planning
Michelle Hope – Corporate Planning and Co-ordination Manager
Minutes:
Councillor Carole Pattison, the Leader of the Council, introduced the item commenting that the Peer Challenge had been a beneficial and thorough process, and the report accurately reflected the position. Actions were already in progress to address a number of the issues raised and this action plan sought to further advance this work. Comments and suggestions from the Committee to support the delivery, monitoring, and reporting of the actions over the coming year were welcomed.
A presentation was given by Stephen Bonnell, Head of Policy Partnerships and Corporate Planning, in respect of the action plan developed to respond to the recommendations contained in the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge Report 2024. This highlighted:
· Key points of feedback received from Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee and Group Leaders.
· The actions planned, including timescales and the Service Director with responsibility for each, under the following headlines:
o Recommendation 1 - Continue to keep a grip on the Council’s budget
o Recommendation 2 - Apply successes and learning from transformation across the Council more widely.
o Recommendation 3 - Regeneration Plans
o Recommendation 4 - Planning
o Recommendation 5 - Working with Business and Economic Partners.
o Recommendation 6 - Member roles and development
o Recommendation 7- Continuing to improve performance
o Recommendation 8- A longer-term horizon
· Delivery was underway and the actions would be closely monitored over the coming months.
· There would be a LGA Progress Review in September 2025.
· The LGA and the Council would publish a progress report no later than November 2025.
Questions and comments were invited from Committee Members, with the following issues being covered:
· It was noted that an informal scrutiny session had taken place to allow Members’ comments to be fed into the development of the action plan.
· The commitment to supporting locally owned and managed businesses was welcomed; this needed to be a core focus to retain money within the local economy.
· It was noted that a Kirklees Economic Summit was planned to consider aspirations for growth and this would be one of the areas of focus.
· In relation to external funding, it would be advantageous to gain a deeper understanding of the approach and what was being done to strengthen the voice of the authority with the Combined Authority to ensure it received an appropriate share of investment (and how this could be demonstrated to others).
· Reference was made to the WYCA Brownfield Housing Fund, where Kirklees appeared to be underperforming, and an undertaking was given to explore the position in respect of this scheme.
· It was noted that there were a number of different Combined Authority funding streams and they could be, and had been, split between the districts in differing proportions.
· The action plan reflected the need to be clear on what Kirklees was asking for from the Combined Authority and ensuring that the district gained a fair share of the available funding.
· The aim was to ensure that the Authority’s longer term strategies were established so that they were available, when needed, to submit for relevant funding.
· An example was given in respect of mass transit; there was a clear understanding among relevant officers and senior members who were interacting with the Combined Authority in respect of Kirklees’ ‘asks’ from that scheme.
· The potential challenges associated with the numbers of new Councillors and changes to the overall political composition and party structures were acknowledged but it was considered that this could also have a positive impact.
· It was important that there was a clear understanding of the Councillor role.
· Reference was made to a previous initiative that had involved Councillors and frontline staff meeting to discuss the relationship and working arrangements; it was considered that this had been an effective method of enhancing understanding of roles for both parties.
· It was noted that, in the past, member development opportunities had been available over a longer period.
· Assurance was given that support for new Councillors and the Member Development Framework was already under consideration.
· The role of the Councillor/Council needed to be clearly defined and communicated to residents, this would assist with managing expectations.
· Engagement with Councillor Enquiries and Councillors would be valuable, to gather data on the reasons residents made contact with Councillors. This could assist in identifying any themes that needed to be addressed.
· Recommendation 8 was considered to be pivotal in terms of the need to be clear about what the Council did and did not do but also to ensure that the system was designed so that it delivered first time. The role of Councillors could then be to flag issues within communities that the Authority was not necessarily aware of, and in areas that could make a difference in terms of the Council’s approach, rather than reporting problems with service delivery. An element of this would be providing Councillors with the necessary information to respond to queries from residents.
· There was a need for a longer-term horizon for policy formulation as well as key decisions.
· In response to a comment about the focus being on ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth, it was explained that the Inclusive Economic Strategy did reflect the importance of this approach but this could be reiterated with the relevant team.
The Head of Policy and Partnerships and Corporate Planning undertook to feedback the Committee’s points to the relevant Executive and Service Directors.
RESOLVED -
(1) That the Leader of the Council, Chief Executive and Head of Policy and Partnerships and Corporate Planning be thanked for attending to update the Committee.
(2) That the Action Plan be noted and the points raised by the Committee be considered in delivery of the actions.
(3) That it be noted that the Action Plan will be submitted to Cabinet, for approval, on 8th April and to Council, for noting, on 23rd April and that a further report will be submitted to this Committee to provide an update on progress in Summer 2025.
(4) That further information be provided for Members in respect of the WYCA Brownfield Housing Fund.