Agenda item

To receive updates on the progress against the Improvement Plan up to 3 November 2022.

Agreed:-

(1)          that progress against the Improvement Plan up to 3 November 2022 be received;

(2)          that the Improvement Plan Risk Register be received;

(3)          that Cabinet receive changes to the Improvement Plan;

(4)          to receive any recommendations or comments made by Audit and Risk Assurance Committee, and Budget and Corporate Scrutiny Management Board in relation to the Improvement Plan progress;

(5)          to recommend to Council that this report along with the September progress report and an accompanying letter be submitted to the Secretary of State for Levelling up, Housing and Communities to form the Council’s 6 monthly update on progress against the Improvement Plan.

Approval was sought to recommend to Council that the Improvement Plan Progress report, along with the September progress report and an accompanying letter be submitted to the Secretary of State for Levelling up, Housing and Communities to form the Council’s 6 monthly update on progress against the Improvement Plan.

Recent return visits occurred from Grant Thornton, the LGA and CIPFA. The LGA had recognised the significant progress that has been made and the Council was awaiting the final review reports from Grant Thornton and CIPFA; members would be updated further once these reports had been received.

Consideration was also given to the re scrutiny feedback of the Budget and Corporate Scrutiny Management Board from their meeting held on 29 November 2022.

The Leader thanked everyone who had been involved and committed to driving through improvements.  

Reasons for recommendations

Under the Statutory Directions, the council is required to report progress against the Improvement Plan to the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities every six months. The first report is due for submission by 22 December 2022. It is proposed that this report, along with the quarterly update received by Cabinet in September will form the basis of the report to the Secretary of State along with a covering letter. Council are responsible for approving the report made to the Secretary of State and Cabinet will make a recommendation to Council.

Alternative options considered

The Value for Money Governance Review was undertaken as part of the external auditor’s role to provide assurance on the council’s arrangements for securing economy, efficiency and effectiveness in its use of resources. As the report includes statutory recommendations the council has a legal obligation to respond appropriately.

The Directions issued by the Secretary of State are a statutory requirement and the council has a legal obligation to respond appropriately. Failure to do so would likely result in further intervention measures.

Reviewing progress against the Improvement Plan enables senior officers and members have oversight of delivery, and take corrective action, as necessary.

Alternative formats for reporting to the Secretary of State could be adopted, however the proposal to submit a covering letter along with the quarterly reports made to Cabinet makes use of existing reports. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities confirmed that this would be an acceptable format to them.

Agreed:-

(1)          that progress against the Improvement Plan up to 3 November 2022 be received;

(2)          that the Improvement Plan Risk Register be received;

(3)          to recommend to Council that this report along with the September progress report and an accompanying letter be submitted to the Secretary of State for Levelling up, Housing and Communities to form the Council’s 6 monthly update on progress against the Improvement Plan.