Council springs into action to ensure continual improvement following recent positive Corporate Peer Challenge

Following its recent overwhelmingly positive Corporate Peer Challenge report, Wiltshire Council is not resting on its laurels and has produced an action plan to ensure it is in the best possible position to continually improve.

In November 2022, Wiltshire Council invited the Local Government Association to carry out a Corporate Peer Challenge, which offers local authorities an in-depth look at their services and provides a critical friend's view of both strengths and opportunities for improvement.

Peer challenges are delivered by experienced elected members and officer peers. During their visit to Wiltshire Council, the peer review team engaged with nearly 180 councillors, officers, and partners across three days of interviews, and collectively spent more than 200 hours to arrive at their findings, which is the equivalent of one person spending five weeks with Wiltshire Council. 

Some of the other positive feedback received includes:

• The council's Business Plan developed by the Cabinet provides a clear set of objectives for the council and provides organisational focus.
• The focus on improving outcomes for some of the most vulnerable in the community is none more evident than in children's services.
• A collaborative, open and transparent organisational culture has developed under the stewardship of the current Chief Executive.
• There are examples of where the council works well to deliver improved community outcomes, such as the Wiltshire Wellbeing Hub.
• Wiltshire Council is a valued partner and is working well in specific projects, such as working with UK Health Security Agency and Ministry of Defence at Porton Down.
• Constructive challenge and discourse are genuinely welcomed between senior officers and members with the shared commitment to securing the best possible outcomes for residents.
• The council is excelling in work to address climate change - "The council's work to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change is impressive, with many activities that would be considered exceptional in other organisations being seen very much as the 'day job'."
• A truly positive organisational culture pervades all levels of the council.
• Scrutiny at Wiltshire Council is well resourced, and members feel they are able to challenge and influence the policy agenda.
• The council has impressive and strong internal governance.
• Staff at Wiltshire Council are motivated, energetic, and committed.

In addition, a range of observations and suggestions were provided by the Local Government Association, and Wiltshire Council has produced an action plan to help progress these and will also look to arrange a follow-up visit from the peer review in the autumn to discuss them further. Some of the suggestions from the Corporate Peer Challenge were for the council to consider how to celebrate its successes where it is important and contributes to raising its national profile; creating a county-wide strategic partnership board to oversee the economic strategy for Wiltshire; and ensuring opportunities are maximised to involve the voluntary community sector (and other partners) in developing strategies and policies.

The council presented its action plan at its Cabinet meeting on 28 March.

Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said: Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said: "We are always striving to improve our impact and delivery in the communities we represent.  As stated in our Business Plan, we want to be the highest performing council in the country. We are always looking for ways to improve

"That's why we were delighted to receive such a positive peer review by the Local Government Association and also grateful to them for providing us with some constructive feedback and suggestions to help us develop even more.

"A detailed action plan has been developed and we have already started to make progress, and we look forward to welcoming the Local Government Association peers back to Wiltshire in the autumn so we can once again talk in more detail with them about the work we're doing."

The full Corporate Peer Challenge report and Wiltshire Council action plan can be found at Agenda, Cabinet - Tuesday 28 March 2023 10am (opens new window).