Corporate Peer Challenge

LGA Corporate Peer Challenge

Corporate Peer Challenges are coordinated by the Local Government Association (LGA) on behalf of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. They are an opportunity for a council to reflect on its performance and achievements as well as to take forward learning and areas identified for improvement. Before starting the review, Watford Borough Council produced their Corporate Peer Challenge Position Statement.

In November 2023, a team of five peers from a range of local authorities and the LGA visited Watford to undertake a peer challenge, focusing on five themes and questions recommended by the LGA as well as two specific areas of focus we asked them to consider.

Summary of challenge findings

During the 4 day visit, the team gathered information and views from more than 55 meetings, in addition to further research and reading. They spoke to more than 150 people including a range of council staff, councillors and external stakeholders and partners.

The review team found many strengths in the council’s approach, including that:

we have transformed since our last peer challenge in 2017 driven by strong leadership and a ‘can do’ attitude
we are ‘delivering hugely ambitious plans for Watford’ and have ‘an unwavering focus’ on outcomes for our residents
we have very effective partnerships in place involving both our businesses and community and we have ‘forged strong external relationships’ to support delivery
we are underpinned by ‘a culture of pride, ambition, and empowerment’
we have a well-developed focus on place shaping with joined up senior leadership ensuring the vision for Watford is promoted nationally, regionally and locally
we have a good record of financial stewardship and a clear understanding of our financial position.

The team also made recommendations that have formed the basis of the council’s Corporate Peer Challenge action plan.

Part of the process involves the Chief Executive Peer and Member Peer returning to the council between six and 12 months after the Peer Challenge itself. The council produced an updated position statement (shown below) providing an overview of the actions taken to implement the recommendations and deliver the agreed action plan. Our review took place on 2 October 2024 and an overwhelming positive overview was provided as part of the review, demonstrating that the council has made great strides in the delivering the action plan.

Challenge documents

The document below provide more detail about the peer challenge and its outcome, including the team’s final report and the council’s action plan.