Issue - meetings

The Council had before it an update report on the Improvement and Recovery Plan, adopted following the statutory government intervention and the issuing of a Section 114 Notice.  The Plan would ensure that the expectations detailed in the Secretary of State’s Directions published on 25 May 2023 would be delivered and would help the Council return to meeting its best value duty.  The Plan would also draw upon the recommendations of the non-statutory external assurance review into the Council’s finances, investments and related governance.

The Leader of the Council explained that the three-to-five-year plan, adopted in August 2023, detailed the actions that the Council would undertake to deliver against the Government directions, together with milestones and delivery targets to measure progress. The Council was required to report to the Commissioners on the delivery of the Improvement and Recovery Plan after three months, six months and thereafter at six-monthly intervals, or at such intervals as the Commissioners directed.  The first three-month progress report had been submitted to Commissioners in August; the report now before the Council outlined the progress after six months.  The report also included the Chief Executive’s position statement in relation to the Plan. 

The Leader of the Council responded to points raised during the discussion before the Mayor referred the Councillors to the recommendation set out in the report.

RESOLVED

That the six months’ progress since the beginning of the Government intervention on 25 May 2023 be approved.

Reporting Person: Julie Fisher

Julie Fisher, Chief Executive Officer, introduced the item.  Significant progress had been made against each of the four action plan themes adopted by Council in August 2023.  Each of the four themes were interconnected and as such each benefited and required improvements from the other themes.

The Council was in the early stages of developing its new vision.  It was commented that simultaneous to its development should be ensuring the Council articulated its purposes which would in turn help shape the vision.

The Council was due to begin consultation on phase two of its corporate restructure which would place positions at risk across the Council.

The release of Part II documents, a workstream of the Governance and Assurance theme, was well underway but did not yet have a release window.  Redactions were primarily of personal information.

The Green Spaces consultation would begin in due course, once the discovery work on all 44 play areas, five skate parks and five multi-use games areas was complete.  The consultation would engage both the public and key stakeholders.  Officers confirmed that Members would have sight of the consultation prior to its publication to provide comment.

The engagement performed in the Summer of 2023 had not been directly compared with the recently concluded consultations due to their different nature.  The Summer engagement had been conducted to gauge public opinion on the Council’s services.  The consultations were performed to understand the impact of changing specific services.

Risks existed throughout the four themes; Officers confirmed that the red flags were connected primarily with the Financial theme.  There were significant issues with capacity within the Finance team, while systems, processes and procedures were being revised to meet the current and future needs of the Council.

Significant legacy issues remained within the Governance theme which were being addressed.  Officers emphasised the need to ensure the Council was applying best practice to its fundamental functions.

It was confirmed that Officers were working with other Local Authorities and staff had expertise from transformations in other organisations to ensure that the Council was effecting changes efficiently.

The recruitment process for a new Section 151 Officer was underway.  Officers cautioned that the exercise had been carried out previously without success.  Officers stated it was premature to present contingency should the Council not be able to recruit a permanent post again.

Resolved

That the report be noted.