Performance management and annual reports

Peer Challenge 2024

A Peer Challenge  is a process commissioned by councils across England which involves a small team of local government officers and elected members from several authorities visiting a council, at its request, to provide challenge and share learning. It is not an audit or inspection, rather it is sector-led process focussed on identifying opportunities for continuous improvement and change. 

Peer Challenges are improvement-focused and the scope is agreed in advance with the Council prior to the on-site visit. The process is designed to complement, add value and provide external assurance of a council's own performance and improvement plans. They are organised and facilitated by the Local Government Association (LGA) and it is an expectation that councils undergo a Peer Challenge every five years for a council to demonstrate alignment with the Best Value duty. Runnymede Borough Council last held a Peer Challenge in 2019 and the previous outcome and reports can be found on our Peer Challenge 2019 page.

Runnymede Peer Challenge 2024

A team consisting of seven peers visited Runnymede Borough Council to deliver the Peer Challenge in October 2024. The peer team considered the following five core themes which are used in all local authority Peer Challenges, as they are areas that are critical to councils' performance, continuous improvement and delivery of Best Value: 

  • Local priorities and outcomes: Does the council understand its local context and place and use that to inform a clear vision and set of priorities?
  • Organisational and place leadership: Does the council provide effective organisational and place leadership through its elected members, officers and constructive relationships and partnerships with external stakeholders?
  • Governance and culture: Is leadership supported by good governance that responds to key challenges?  Does organisational culture enable change to be implemented?
  • Financial planning and management: Does the council have a sound financial plan in place to ensure long term sustainability and is there evidence that it is being implemented successfully?
  • Capacity for improvement: Is the council self-aware and delivering continuous improvement? Is organisational capacity aligned with priorities and does the council influence, enable and leverage external capacity to focus on agreed outcomes?

The peer team were provided with a suite of the Council's key documents and over the three days on site undertook over 30 meetings/interviews and met with over 130 people, including staff, councillors and external partners. 

The LGA’s final report can be found below:

The Council’s response and action plan was reported to Standards and Audit Committee in Nov 2024.