Agenda item

A joint report of the Chief Executive, Director of Finance and Director of Legal and Governance Services was presented by the Mayor.  The report set out the key activities, progress and impact of the Corporate Governance Improvement Plan and activity in response to the Section 24 recommendations made by the Council’s External Auditors, since last reported to Council on 27 March 2024.

Members were asked to note the progress against the Corporate Governance Improvement Plan and Section 24 Action Plan and agree proposed changes to milestones and activity in relation to the Section 24 Action Plan as follows:

·       Detailed delivery milestone plans had been developed to underpin all workstream activities within the improvement plan.  

·       Where slippage occurred to individual milestones but the overarching end date for the workstream activity was not impacted, no escalation or change control would be required and it could be assumed that any required mitigation would be put in play at an operational level.

·       Where there was impact on achieving the intended measure of success or overarching end date of workstream activity, a change control would be proposed for noting and transparency. 

·       The change controls since last reported to Council were summarised at paragraph 6.10 of the submitted report.

Responding to a question as to whether Middlesbrough Council could deliver for local people, the Mayor welcomed the fact that the Action Plan was 96% either on track or delivered.  Whilst there had been good progress this focus needed to continue and there could be no complacency to ensure that the necessary improvements were made.  From a governance standpoint, significant improvements had been made and the Mayor thanked the Senior Management Team for their contributions.

A Member highlighted that in addressing the financial problems, Council Tax had been increased and the Council had also accepted Exceptional Financial Support from the Government.  The Mayor stated that the Council’s problems were not solely financial.  There had been issues around governance and ensuring that Members and Officers worked collectively together.  It was important to address all the issues, keep focus, and concentrate on providing a better place for the residents of the town.

The Mayor was asked whether he believed that engaging CIPFA to assist with the financial and other difficulties had been a worthwhile process.  The Mayor explained that CIPFA were engaged as part of the process when the Government imposed the Best Value Notice on the Council.  There were various statutory recommendations and conditions that had to be met.  The Mayor added that he valued the support received from CIPFA in helping the Council get to a better position within a year. 

A Member asked whether he had ever overruled or been overruled by the Senior Management Team on any decision.  The Mayor commented that the question demonstrated what the problem was.  Members and Officers needed to work together and try to achieve better solutions in partnership.  Examples of recent partnership working were the production of the Local Plan and the new Free School Meals Policy.

At this point in the meeting a Member asked for clarification on supplementary questions.  The Chair advised that she had taken a decision that no supplementary questions would be permitted at this meeting.

On a vote being taken, it was ORDERED as follows that:

1.     progress against the Corporate Governance Improvement Plan and Section 24 Action Plan was noted.

2.     the proposed changes to milestones and activity in relation to the Section 24 Action Plan as outlined at paragraphs 6.7 to 6.10 of the submitted report were agreed.

3.   the departing Middlesbrough Independent Improvement Advisory Board

      Financial Lead, Chris Buss, was thanked for his support, advice and    

      guidance on the Council’s improvement journey to date.