Independent review praises council’s work

A Local Government Association inspection of the authority’s work praised its financial management and clear, steady leadership, and for attracting “enviable amounts of Government funding to deliver physical regeneration”.

The team, comprising an experienced council leader and senior officers from local authorities in other parts of England, also highlighted Newcastle’s ability to work jointly to deliver good services, a rigorous savings programme and staff’s pride in the Borough.

Simon Tagg, Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, said:

We have successfully bid for more than £50 million to make Newcastle and Kidsgrove better places to live and work.

 

With projects including the Ryecroft and York Place redevelopments in Newcastle, job creation at Chatterley Valley West, the reopening of Kidsgrove Sport Centre and the development of Kidsgrove town centre, train station and canal area, the report rightly describes this work as ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ investment and I am very pleased it backs our ambition, plans and how we are working with others to make this happen.

 

The report also acknowledges the difficulty of delivering big projects at the moment, with inflation and rising construction costs, and that is something we are very focused on.”

The report, known as a peer review, highlights:

• strong financial management and stability;
• the work of the ‘One Council’ approach to redesigning delivery of services after the pandemic;
• the authority is on target to make a second yearly budget saving of £1 million;
• with competition from other authorities for staff, the need to train and develop employees from within;
• tireless work in the face of the unprecedented problems at Walleys Quarry, which generated more than 20,000 complaints.

Describing the council’s determination to deal with the Walleys Quarry issue as “exemplary”, the report said other bodies recognised the strength of community engagement and political leadership provided by the authority.

The report added:

Partners agreed that the council came together and stood up to lead the community response ‘above and beyond’ what is typical. The ongoing commitment of the council to this cannot be overstated and the peer team recognise the crucial role it has played in committing resources and capacity to this.”

Credit was also given to how the council collaborates with other authorities, groups and the voluntary sector to get things done in the community.

The report said:

The Council’s approach to partnership working is particularly strong… with all partners noting how ‘it brings people together and makes things happen.’”

Cllr Simon Tagg added:

This is an independent assessment of our work by experienced, senior officers who know which stones to look under as they make an informed judgement of our performance.

 

We are not perfect but we have a clear focus on our commitments to improve our communities and how we go about delivering them.

 

I’m pleased the way we work closely with others is recognised: we work better together and collaborating this way ensures we get as much as we can for every pound that we spend.”