Meeting documents

To consider this report.

The Committee considered this report that explained that the Healthy Organisation review was a strategic governance review of the key corporate areas of the Council including finance, performance and governance. The report provided details of the progress made since the first undertaken in 2017/17.

Members discussed the report asking questions of the Assistant Director SWAP and it was noted that within the Financial Management assessment there are two "reds" regarding financial resilience and value for money, both of which have had significant focus in 2018/19 and would continue to do so in 2019/20.

The Committee noted its disappointment in the area of risk management, as this had moved from "green" to "amber". The view of the Risk Manager was sought and she acknowledged that this important area of activity was not yet embedded within the Council’s day to day thinking. Improvements had been made in the last two or three months, but those coupled with what were described as areas of resistance, had not been enough to influence the review rating positively. It was noted that this work would continue with greater focus, in 2019/20.

It was reported that the Performance Team had already put in place the monitoring regime to track progress against the actions needed to address areas where improvements were required. In response to a question it was noted that the monitoring regime would be routinely scrutinised by the Governance Board and the Senior Leadership Team to ensure that progress was being made, which would help to ensure an improved assessment outcome next time.

The report was accepted.

The Committee considered this report that explained that the Healthy Organisation review was a strategic governance review of the key corporate areas of the Council including finance, performance and governance. The report provided details of the progress made since the first undertaken in 2017/17.

Members discussed the report asking questions of the Assistant Director SWAP and it was noted that within the Financial Management assessment there are two "reds" regarding financial resilience and value for money, both of which have had significant focus in 2018/19 and would continue to do so in 2019/20.

The Committee noted its disappointment in the area of risk management, as this had moved from "green" to "amber". The view of the Risk Manager was sought and she acknowledged that this important area of activity was not yet embedded within the Council’s day to day thinking. Improvements had been made in the last two or three months, but those coupled with what were described as areas of resistance, had not been enough to influence the review rating positively. It was noted that this work would continue with greater focus, in 2019/20.

It was reported that the Performance Team had already put in place the monitoring regime to track progress against the actions needed to address areas where improvements were required. In response to a question it was noted that the monitoring regime would be routinely scrutinised by the Governance Board and the Senior Leadership Team to ensure that progress was being made, which would help to ensure an improved assessment outcome next time.

The report was accepted.