Issue - meetings

To consider the update report on the Financial Leadership Improvement Plan.

The committee considered the report which provided an opportunity to scrutinise the activities undertaken to improve financial leadership across Cheshire East Council. 

A thematic plan had been established to respond to several external reviews commissioned by both the Council and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to provide assurance on financial management.  This work was ongoing during 2024/25 and led to a focused plan for 2025/26 being developed and considered in June 2025.  This second review of the plan provided the progress as at the end of September 2025.

The report detailed the Council's progress against the Financial Leadership Improvement Plan, which outlined improvement activities aligned with external reviews, including the Corporate Peer Challenge, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountability (CIPFA) Assurance Review, and the recent External Audit.

The committee queried the presentation of data in the tables at paragraph 12 (page 139), in particular the use of coloured headings and percentage figures at the bottom of some sections.  Concern was expressed over items in the appendix still marked as red or amber, and assurance was sought that these were progressing appropriately.  It was clarified that the percentage figure represented the change in the respective movement.  The presentation of this information would be reviewed to improve clarity for future reports.  Additionally, the committee suggested that RAG rating the available options; reviewing the use of colours and including a symbol key to show progress; and including wider commentary on items likely to slip would enhance the usefulness of the document. It was also requested that A3 paper copies of the report be provided at future meetings.

The committee welcomed the transparency and improvements shown in the reporting and thanked officers for their work.

RESOLVED (unanimously):

That the Finance Sub Committee: 

1. Note the content and progress made against the Finance Leadership Improvement Plan.