Agenda item

Juliet Whitworth introduced the report, which updated members on the progress of the current evaluation of sector led improvement (SLI) and the emerging pattern of results at the half way stage. Juliet gave a presentation to support this and ran through the highlights of the report.

Discussion

The Board welcomed the report and the positive findings in terms of the effectiveness of sector led improvement and support for the approach within the sector. Members discussed several issues, including:

• Whether we knew, for those respondents to the LGA Perceptions survey who did not think SLI was the right approach, what they did think was the right approach;

• How the LGA understands whether CPC recommendations are taken forward. Given the effectiveness of CPC, whether consideration should be given to Lead Members and the Chair sending a supportive letter from the Board to encourage the Leaders of those councils that have not had a CPC, to have one;

• Whether the improvement in performance indicators masks the impact the severe financial pressures on councils are having and whether CPC should be focussed on those councils we know are facing particularly tough financial challenges;

• Whether in the final report we can explore further those areas where performance has fallen, to better understand the reasons why.

• How we ensure the capacity of the peers taking part in peer challenges. The Chairman responded that he believed the move towards political peers being decided by the political group office had reassured him of the quality of the peers.

• That it would be helpful to have an analysis of resident satisfaction results, by region – to explore any regional differences. 

Dennis Skinner welcomed the members’ comments and reminded the board that even if a council is not a member of the LGA, they are still entitled to grant funded improvement support. Dennis also stated that the take-up of CPCs was still progressing at a good rate but that the LGA was also encouraging those councils that hadn’t yet had one, to have one. It was also important for the LGA’s lobbying side and improvement work to continue to work together and give the same message in terms of funding cuts.

Action

Officers will act upon the member comments, while continuing the work on evaluation, with a ‘final’ report to be available in 2020.