Where is Spelthorne's Action Plan in response to the LGA Report?
26 recommendations but no action plan detailed yet
Last November the Local Government Association (LGA) conducted a review into the Council's current financial strategy and the report has just been published. Despite having had the draft findings since December there is still no action plan to address the recommendations.
The LGA team was forced to conduct the review remotely due to COVID restrictions and had to work with the information provided by the Council. This information set the tone from the outset by telling the LGA that "Spelthorne BC is a well-performing council" and that it was following a "strongly commercial approach". Despite the unrelentingly positive messages the LGA team came up with 26 recommendations - yes, twenty-six - on a wide range of topics including housing, finances, and decision-making.
What is Spelthorne's Action Plan?
Good question. It is now six weeks since the draft report was delivered but there is no sign of a plan from the council in response. Many of the recommendations need to be implemented sooner rather than later and bad practices eliminated. It is vital as an authority we listen and learn from the best practice advice being offered. We will continue to press the Council to provide an action plan as soon as possible and will be making practical suggestions to see these recommendations are followed.
The full report and Spelthorne's response can be found here - https://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/article/19993/Local-Government-Associations-Peer-Review