LGA Corporate Peer Challenge in March 2024
Cheshire East Council invited the Local Government Association to undertake a corporate peer challenge of the council in March 2024. The peer challenge report for Cheshire East Council was published in July 2024:
The peer team heard of good examples of services that are appreciated by residents and that there is a real will for improvement in the organisation. They recognised that the council urgently needs to focus on significant challenges, including the financial position and longer-term transformation.
The peer challenge provides valuable insight as part of this evidence base to guide the organisation’s plans for transformation and improvement.
Recommendations
The report contains 18 recommendations which prioritise
- financial stability
- organisational capacity
- transformation and improvement.
It also highlights the need for clear communication and engagement with residents and clarity around decision-making and scrutiny. It is important that the council’s systems and processes are focused on the council’s vision, priorities and the outcomes it has committed to delivering.
Action plan
The council has published an action plan to address the peer challenge recommendations.
As of time of publication, work is already well advanced in a number of key areas to address the recommendations, including:
- Development of the transformation plan
- Agreement to develop a new multi-year council plan (corporate plan)
- Review of implementation of ERP system (Unit4)
Progress on delivery of the action plan will be reported at public meetings of the council and its committees.
LGA Corporate Peer Challenge progress review, February 2025
As part of the corporate peer challenge process, there is agreement that a one-day progress review will take place within 12 months of the original review to support follow-up conversations as well as reflecting on any changes in the context and circumstances of the Council.
The review, completed by a subset of the original team, is designed to provide space for the Council’s Senior Political and Managerial Leadership to:
- Receive feedback from peers on the early progress made by the council against the CPC recommendations and the council’s Action Plan.
- Consider the reflections of peers on any new opportunities or challenges that may have arisen since the peer team were ‘on-site’ including any further support needs.
- Discuss any early impact or learning from the progress made to date.
- Better understand any changes in context which may affect the Council’s progress or alter previously developed plans.
Read the LGA Corporate Peer Challenge progress review report for Cheshire East Council (PDF, 445KB)
Page last reviewed: 08 May 2025
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