Every few years we invite experienced members and officers from other councils to visit us, to assess how we're doing and provide feedback about how we can continue to improve.
These ‘peer reviews’ are not inspections, but tools for improvement as part of an industry recognised commitment to improving performance.
A peer review team:
- review documents to familiarise themselves with local issues
- gather information by attending meetings
- listen to views from residents, council staff, councillors, external partners, and stakeholders
Previous peer reviews
Find out about previous peer reviews (sometimes called a 'Peer Challenge'):
Peer review 2024
The findings and recommendations from the 2024 Peer Review were discussed at Executive on 9 May 2024 and are published online: LGA Corporate Peer Challenge Final Report (york.gov.uk).
We produced a Corporate Improvement Framework (.pdf) in response to the council plan action, 'how we will operate' informed by the LGA Peer Challenge recommendations, which was improved for consultation by Executive in May 2024.
We consulted residents, staff and Corporate Services Climate Change and Scrutiny Management Committee to develop a detailed action plan (.pdf) together which was approved by the Leader at the Decision session – Executive Leader, Policy, Strategy and Partnerships on Wednesday 17 July 2024 at 10.00am item 4.
The 2024 Peer Review, which took place from 6 to 9 February 2024, covered 5 high level themes from the Local Government Association (LGA) Peer Challenge Framework:
- local priorities and outcomes
- organisational and place leadership
- governance and culture
- financial planning and management
- capacity for improvement
We've asked for specific focus on:
- how we provide positive customer experiences
- how ready we are to benefit from future opportunities (such as Local Plan, Local Transport Strategy, and the Mayoral Combined Authority)
See the Audit and Governance Committee update about scope of the 2024 Peer Review via: Audit and Governance Committee Meeting Agenda (item 5) on Wednesday 31 January 2024.
Peer review 2016
The 2016 Peer Review team included members and officers from Southampton, Trafford, Oldham, Sunderland and Preston councils alongside a representative from the Local Government Association.
We asked the Peer Challenge team to look at 3 areas:
- progress since the 2013 and 2014 peer challenges
- behaviour and relationships
- future plans
The findings and recommendations from the 2016 Peer Review were used to develop a Peer Review 2012 Corporate Action Plan which set out short and long term steps to improve how we deliver for the people of York.
Peer review 2014
The 2014 review was delivered by members from Plymouth, Northumberland, Newcastle and Bedford councils alongside the regional lead officer from the Local Government Association.
The review was undertaken following a motion at Full Council which stated:
“Council notes with concern the results of the Organisational Development Action Plan, in particular the Leadership section and the current position re ‘Concern about the Behaviour of some Members.”
"This follows last year’s Peer Review which also expressed concern regarding members’ understanding of council priorities and the lack of clarity within the council.
Council requests that an independent body be appointed to report back to the Audit and Governance Committee no later than its meeting of 10 December 2014 and that the report is delivered directly to this committee, investigating these concerns and whether Members have acted in a manner which falls below that which staff and residents expect.
This report should take into account the personalised politics being exhibited within York by elected members and their supporters – most notably on social media."
The findings and recommendation from the 2014 Peer Review were reported to Audit and Governance Committee in January 2015 following a presentation of early feedback at their meeting in December 2014.
Peer review 2013
The 2013 peer review was delivered by members and officers from Sunderland, Nottingham, Wirral, Plymouth and Lambeth councils alongside representatives from the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education and the Local Government Association.
At our request the review focused on 6 key areas:
- understanding the local context and priority setting
- financial planning and viability
- political and managerial leadership
- governance and decision-making
- being a responsive and innovative organisation
- community infrastructure and capacity building
The 2013 Peer Review report and findings, alongside the results from the Big York Survey and staff survey, fed into a report to Cabinet in October 2013 which led to the creation of a transformation programme to drive improvements to services.