A Corporate Peer Challenge review has provided significant independent assurance that Runnymede Borough Council are delivering for the good of our local communities, businesses and residents.
In October, seven peers from across the local government sector reviewed Runnymede based on their extensive knowledge and experience to look at how well the Council met the Local Government Association’s five core themes. These themes include prioritising local needs, financial planning and management, and ensuring we continue to improve the vital front-line services that people rely on every day.
The rigorous three-day on-site review, hosted at the Civic Centre, was organised by the Local Government Association at our request and was a chance for us to show the good work we do here at Runnymede. We presented extensive evidence and arranged for the peers to meet members of staff across the organisation, and elected members from multiple parties. The peer group also met with external stakeholders and partners to develop an overall view of how the Council is performing. In total they met with around 130 people.
The exercise is not a formal audit or inspection, but an opportunity for us to seek external assurance from across the sector about the way we operate and the processes we have in place. The peer group used their experience to recognise areas of success and to advise where change could be considered.
The peer group provided a formal report to the Council, which was debated at our Standards and Audit Committee on 28 November. Councillors heard that the peer group’s first recommendation was to ‘keep up the good work’.
The peer group’s report states:
The council is very aware of both the opportunities and challenges facing the borough and has a track record of place-shaping activity and supporting communities. Staff and elected members are proud to belong to the council and have a strong sense of worth both through what it delivers and their closeness to communities. The council is demonstrating an increasing external strategic focus and there is a clear ambition from elected members for Runnymede to be ‘put on the map’. External partners reflected a council that has engaged well over many years in partnership working at the operational and service delivery level.
A spokesperson for the Council said:
"The peer challenge gave a very fair reflection of the work we do here at Runnymede. The peer team proposed just seven recommendations that reflect a positive overall position, as the majority referenced continuous improvement efforts that are either underway or already planned for 2025.
It is very satisfying to receive such supportive feedback from an outside chief executive, finance leader, monitoring officer and senior councillors. Runnymede residents should be reassured by this report which shows we are a well-run council which strives to meet their needs and improve the quality of life locally.
We are pleased with the very positive feedback, and it is especially welcome, given that the peer group acknowledged we had been through a period of significant change.”
The change experienced at Runnymede includes a new political administration following the May 2024 election which was preceded by the arrival of a new Chief Executive in 2023.
There is already clear activity and significant momentum around most of the peer group’s recommendations. Self-reflection and continuous improvement is a core activity that has supported our response to the Non-Statutory Best Value Notice during 2024. We are grateful to the peers for identifying where we can prioritise efforts for further continuous improvement. As part of the process, the peers will be back in 2025 to see where we are with our action plan addressing their recommendations.
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