1.            That the Local Government Association be thanked for undertaking the Corporate Peer Challenge and that the resulting Feedback Report (as set out in Appendix 1) be accepted.

2.            That the LGA Corporate Peer Challenge Action Plan (as set out in Appendix 2) be approved.

3.            That the Audit Committee be requested to monitor the implementation of the Action Plan.

To make available the Local Government’s Association Corporate Peer Challenge Feedback Report and to ensure that an action plan was in place to embrace the recommendations of the Local Government Association.

An alternative option would be to not accept the Local Government Associations Corporate Peer Challenge Feedback Report and resulting action plan – this was not recommended as implementation of the action plan would enable the Council to continue to improve. Alternative or additional actions could be proposed.

This decision will come into force and may be implemented on 22 July 2024 unless the call-in procedure is triggered (as set out in the Standing Orders in relation to Overview and Scrutiny).

The Local Government Association (LGA) offers all councils a Corporate Peer Challenge once every five years. Torbay Council’s last full challenge took place in 2015 and due to the pandemic, a shorter Remote Health Check in 2021 was held.

The Challenge was an effective and well-regarded tool for improvement in local government. At the heart of this was a practitioner perspective who take a 'critical friend' approach to understanding where we are and where we can improve.  This isn't an inspection, but it is an in-depth challenge.  Importantly it provides an opportunity to reflect on how we are doing and receive the benefit of others experience and perspective.

In April 2024, a team of seven peers visited Torbay and met with a range of officers, councillors and external partners/stakeholders.  At the end of their review, the team provided feedback and made recommendations.  Subsequently a draft Action Plan has also been prepared to respond to the Local Government Association’s recommendations, to ensure the Council embraced the learning and feedback from our peers.

At the meeting, Councillor David Thomas proposed and Councillor Chris Lewis seconded a motion that was agreed unanimously by the Cabinet, as set out above.

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