Issue - meetings

To receive the findings of the Peer Challenge and provide feedback on the Council’s proposed action plan (report of the Assistant Director – Corporate enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Corporate which sought to receive the findings of the Peer Challenge and provide feedback on the Council’s proposed action plan.

The Group Manager – Insights and Transformation presented the report.

The Joint Panel considered the report and presentation, and the following points were raised:

• The feedback from the Peer Review was positive and encouraging.
• Members asked whether the recommendation for an Independent Person for Governance and Audit Committee would be looked into and amended in the Constitution.
  • The Leader confirmed that he had no problem with looking into this and felt it would be useful to have an independent person as part of the Governance and Audit Committee.

The Joint Chief Executive commented that it was a benefit to have recommendations presented by the Peer Review team, especially regarding housing regulations. New expectations had been placed on the Council as a landlord to monitor how properties were looked after. He noted that policies needed to be put in place to determine how best to look after our properties and the Council now had the luxury of time to put these policies into place.

• Members asked what types of authorities the peers had come from.
  • The Leader responded to say that the peers were picked specifically from authorities with similar experiences and areas to South Holland. He confirmed that peers had received background information on the authority several weeks before they visited.
  • He also highlighted the recommendations relating to housing and suggested that a housing board could be put in place to monitor key performance indicators for HRA properties.
• Members questioned whether other stakeholders were interviewed as part of the Peer Review.
  • The Joint Chief Executive confirmed that staff, members, county council representatives, voluntary sector groups and local businesses were interviewed as part of the review process.

AGREED:

1. That the Corporate Peer Challenge findings at Appendix A be noted.

2. That the Committee’s feedback on the proposed action plan at Appendix B be noted.

That the update on the Housing Peer Review recommendation at Appendix C be noted.