The peer team

Peer challenges are delivered by experienced elected member and officer peers. The make-up of the peer team reflected the focus of the peer challenge and peers were selected on the basis of their relevant expertise. The peers were:

• Andrew Hardingham, Peer Challenge Manager and LGA. Financial Improvement and Sustainability Adviser (FISA)

• Cllr Rob Waltham, Leader, North Lincolnshire Council

• David Austin, Executive Director for Corporate Resources, London Borough of Lewisham

• Carolyn Fair, Director of Children's Services, East Sussex County Council

• Megan Hermes, Regional Advisor, LGA

Scope and focus

The peer team considered the following five themes which form the core components of all Finance Peer Challenges. These areas are critical to councils’ performance and improvement.

1. Financial leadership: Does the authority have plans for its long-term financial sustainability, which are owned by its members and officer leaders?
2. Financial strategy, planning & forecasting: Does the authority understand its short- and long-term financial prospects?
3. Decision-making: Are key decisions taken in the understanding of the financial implications, risks and options? Are Audit and Scrutiny effective?
4. Financial outcomes: Are financial results (including those of the Council’s investments and transformation projects) monitored and acted upon to realise the authority’s intentions? Are financial controls robust?
5. Partnership and innovation: Is finance at the cutting edge of what the authority is working to achieve, working with partners, and seeking innovative approaches?

In addition to these questions, the council asked the peer team to provide feedback on Children’s Services given the budget pressures and demand challenges in this area, in particular focussing on (within Children’s): governance; behaviours; finances and managing demand; and budgets.

The peer challenge process

Peer challenges are improvement focused; it is important to stress that this was not an inspection. The process is not designed to provide an in-depth or technical assessment of plans and proposals. The peer team used their experience and knowledge of local government to reflect on the information presented to them by people they met, things they saw and material that they read.

The peer team prepared by reviewing a range of documents and information in order to ensure they were familiar with the Council and the challenges it is facing. The team then spent three days onsite at Bexley Council, during which they:

• gathered information and views from more than 27 meetings, in addition to further research and reading
• spoke to more than 77 people including a range of Council staff together with members and the Council’s external auditors

This report provides a summary of the peer team’s findings. In presenting feedback, they have done so as fellow local government officers and members.