A REPORT has found that progress is being made to improve how Bromsgrove District Council works as part of an internal audit.

A local government peer challenge last year saw, at the council’s request, a team of senior local government peers from across the country gather in Bromsgrove to scrutinise how the authority works and make recommendations for improvement.

The follow-up report on what the council has since done on those recommendations was received at a meeting last week and has been published.

The peer challenge saw an eight-strong team of ‘critical friends’ speak to 130 council staff, members, and partners over 55 meetings in 2023, to produce detailed recommendations on what the council does well, and what it could do better, to achieve its goals.

The follow up progress report found that the council’s ‘aspirational and forward-looking’ strategic vision and ‘clear priorities’ could ‘inject confidence and positivity’ in the district.

It found improved decision-making processes and a more positive democratic culture at the council, with more emphasis on engagement and shared values such as requiring key committees to be chaired by members of opposition parties.

It also found that the council "appears to be on track" on progress on the ‘Section 24’ financial management recommendations issued by the council’s auditor, with the peers encouraging the council to ensure that the ongoing work on that is sustained and robust.

Cllr Sue Baxter, Deputy Leader of Bromsgrove District Council, said: “This glowing report highlights just how much the council has delivered and continues to deliver on the recommendations we received last year.

“There’s still work to be done of course, but you only need to look at the council chamber itself to see how members from across the political spectrum are more energised than at any time in recent memory.

"Having independent experts bring a critical perspective to what we are trying to do is helping us to deliver the best for our residents.”