Changes to Torridge District Council's Constitution approved following recommendations from Local Government Association Peer Review

Torridge District Council approved a number of changes to its constitution at its full council meeting, yesterday, following recommendations from a recent Local Government Association Peer Review. 

Torridge invited the Local Government Association to carry out a Corporate Peer Challenge at the end of April 2024.  The process is intended to provide "critical friend" support and assurance and is not an inspection.  The key areas covered were local priorities and outcomes; organisational and place leadership; governance and culture; financial planning and management and capacity for improvement.

Last month, the Corporate Peer Review group revisited Torridge District Council to check on the progress made against its original action plan.  Out of the 11 recommendations, the report noted that 91 per cent of actions have already been completed or progressed.  The peer team praised the council on the improvements and progress made, particularly against the backdrop of local government reorganisation.

Councillor Ken James, Leader of Torridge District Council, said:

"We welcomed the Peer Team to Torridge as critical friends and we equally welcome the report produced by the team, which is already helping us to provide service and other improvements across the Council.

"There has been considerable progress made on almost all fronts since the action plan was reported to Full Council on 9 September 2024, which is testament to the hard work and effort put in by the Member Development Working Group and officers across the Council implementing changes in their areas.

"I am pleased that the Peer Team praised the Council on our achievements especially in light of the additional work and impact as a result of Local Government Reorganisation.  There is still some work to be done over the next couple of months, but I am confident that working with the other Group Leaders and the Senior Management Team we will be able to implement the remaining actions and deliver on the Council's ambitions."

May 25