Issue - meetings

The Middlesbrough Independent Improvement Advisory Board presented a report for Executive’s consideration.

The Mayor invited the Chair of the Board to present the report.

The Board’s first report set out the background to its appointment, a summary of activity to date and a forward view on the future focus the Council should have in its improvement journey.

In September 2023 the Council appointed a discretionary Independent Improvement Board. Comprised of the following members:

Wallace Sampson (OBE) - Local authority CEO (Chair)

Ros Jones (CBE) - Unitary local authority Mayor / Leader

Suki Binjal - Unitary local authority Monitoring Officer

Chris Buss - London Borough and Unitary local authority Chief Finance Officer

Mark Edgell - LGA Regional Lead

The Board’s role was to provide oversight, support and challenge to the Council’s

improvement and transformation journey, with particular focus on ensuring compliance with the Council’s Best Value Duty under the Local Government Act 1999, notably:

·        Cultural and governance issues, including those identified through previous CIPFA and previous, and any future, external auditor reports.

·        Financial sustainability, including a balanced medium-term financial strategy aligned to the Council’s Corporate Plan.

The Board also oversaw progress by the Council towards implementing the actions arising from the Section 24 Statutory Recommendations of the External Auditor, dated 21 August 2023 and presented to Council on the 18 September 2023.

The September 2023 Council report set out that the Board would report its views on progress to Executive in January 2024 and would provide a further update to Council three months after that. The Board’s first report was appended to the report.

In summary, the Chair of the Board identified that there had been improvements in relationships since the Best Value Notice. It was also recognised that changes to culture took time. There were still concerns about the speed Member enquiries were dealt with.

While the Board were confident the Council had robust plans to address its financial issues and to achieve its transformation aspirations, but there was a degree of urgency required to ensure this was achieved.  

The Mayor thanked the Middlesbrough Independent Advisory Board for their report.

NOTED