Improvements continue at St Helens Borough Council says independent review

Article date: 30 June 2022

Cabinet have welcomed the results of a Local Government Association (LGA) Peer Review six-month progress report, to evaluate the work that has been done to transform the organisation following a Corporate Peer Challenge (CPC) in 2019. 

The six-month progress report was welcome by Cabinet today (Thursday 30 June). 

The purpose of the six-month progress review is to support councils in implementing their action plan following the CPC with an opportunity for:  

• Feedback from the peer team on the early progress made by the Council against the CPC recommendations and action plan. 
• A sounding board - around the alignment of actions in the action plan to the recommendations and any early impact or learning from the progress made against this action plan. 
• Space to discuss and design ways of capitalising or navigating any significant changes in the local operating environment. This includes relevant, new opportunities or obstacles that may have come into focus during the past six months. 

The report is again largely positive and an endorsement of significant progress that continues to be made at St Helens Borough Council, with LGA peers stating that: 

• There are clearly many opportunities now presenting themselves in the area of inclusive growth and the steps to develop a strategy from a renewed evidence base is already starting to show positive results 
• Continuing to connect communities, members, officers and partners into the local story as to how St Helens is changing and what this may mean for them is a useful step and the Council has already taken steps in this regard (such as the Good Business Festival) and this is something to continue to build on, working with others. 
• The council are able to speak openly about the continued efforts to improve children's services ahead of a full OFSTED inspection and the journey they have been on. 

Councillor David Baines, Leader of St Helens Borough Council, said: "The independent, expert Local Government Association spent time with us in September reviewing our council and our progress since their last visit in 2019 just before I became Leader. 

"Since the start I've been wholly in favour of this process, as it can only help us to achieve our borough priorities and the high standards we have set for our organisation - standards which residents rightfully expect and deserve. 

"And at this important six-month milestone, the feedback we have received is again extremely positive. 

"Their findings are validation for the tough decisions we've made and the journey we're on, and a credit to our staff and councillors." 

You can read the full report at and the action plan at https://www.sthelens.gov.uk/article/3056/LGA-Corporate-Peer-Challenge-2019