Vale Royal Borough Council

Excellent Council

CLIENT ASSIGNMENT:

Comprehensive Performance Assessment Peer Review

Duration: 2 Months

Location: Winsford, Cheshire

EiB Role:

Sourcing Peers and Leading the Peer Review

Project Overview:

As the only Private Sector company accredited by the Audit Commission to conduct Peer Challenges, we were commissioned by Vale Royal BC to undertake a comprehensive peer review to support preparations for the CPA inspection. The primary purpose of the review was to identify the council's key strengths and main areas for improvement; provide specific feedback to inform changes to the council's self-assessment and prepare officers and elected members for the AC's own inspection.

The review involved planning for and then interviewing a wide cross-section of officers, elected members and other stakeholders.  A comprehensive report setting out the findings and making recommendations was fedback to the Senior Management Team and the Leader of the Council.  The review was so well received by the Council that they requested a second review which was undertaken several months later. The Council subsequently went on to achieve a rating of 'excellent' from their CPA inspection.

Project Outcomes/Impact:

• There was widespread acknowledgement that the review had accurately identified the Council's strengths to build on and areas where improvement was needed;
• Officers and elected members found the process to be an excellent experience of the corporate assessment against the CPA themes and very useful preparation for their subsequent inspection;
• Due to the perceived added-value of our first peer review, the Council requested that we undertake another one to establish the improvements they had made and further support their preparations for the AC inspection.

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