The Isle of Wight Council has this week published the findings of a voluntary corporate peer challenge into its overall leadership and governance, how it works – and its capacity to deliver and meet future challenges.
The peer challenge report concludes that the Council has made sound progress over the last year, but that the Council recognises it is in transition and is presented with significant challenges. It states:
“Pride of place is very evident in the Isle of Wight and is reflected in the work of elected members who are ambitious for the council to deliver for the best interests of residents and businesses”.
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The peer challenge – at the request of the Council – was carried out through the Local Government Association (LGA) in April this year, and was conducted by councillors and officers from other councils as well as the LGA. Peer challenges are not inspections, but designed to help councils further their improvement agendas by inviting the views of a ‘critical friend’.
The team undertook a review of council documentation and carried out a four-day visit, holding focus groups and meetings with staff, senior officers, councillors and partner organisations – as well as feedback sessions.
The report highlights six ‘priority recommendations’ focusing on core services, staffing capacity, using external expertise, and producing an economic growth strategy and a communications strategy.
It comments that political leadership is well regarded at the council and the wish to be transparent and inclusive is widely recognised.
“The leader is highly regarded, showing leadership through engagement with a number of principal partners, including the Solent LEP (local enterprise partnership), the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire, and other external bodies and with staff.”
The report identifies stretched capacity and capability at all levels of the organisation, acknowledging the significant staffing reductions in recent years and the financial challenges the council faces.
It observes: “In moving to a new operating model the council is developing some excellent initiatives, for example joint venture housing delivery, co-funding a destination management company, joint funding of a tidal energy project etc.”
But it adds: “However, the council does need to produce an economic growth strategy linking tourism, business, skills and housing.” It highlights the issue of economic growth in respect of planning applications. It also states: “One clear message from partners was their wish to see the council assume a role in bringing partners together and being the ‘voice of the island’ to represent island interests more widely.”
A report on the peer challenge and its full recommendations will be presented to a meeting of the Full Council on 17th September. The LGA is working closely with the council in supporting its improvement agenda and, as part of the peer challenge process, can work with the council to address the issues it has raised.
The peer challenge report (in the form of a letter to the council’s managing director) can be accessed via the following link: https://www.iwight.com/documentlibrary/view/isle-of-wight-council-–-corporate-peer-challenge-report
Council leader, Councillor Ian Stephens, said:
“This has proved an extremely valuable exercise, with the peer review team casting a fresh pair of eyes over the work of the council and the many challenges we face.
“We are grateful for their observations and recommendations, especially as it gives both a detached and expertly assessed view of the council.
“We will now be taking the report and recommendations to a meeting of the Full Council in September.
“I am pleased to say, however, that some of the issues raised, including in relation to economic development, are already in the process of, or will soon be taken forward by the council.”
