Agenda item

To receive an update on the Transformation Programme.

The committee considered the report which provided an update on the Council’s Transformation Plan, including revenue and capital expenditure, financial and non-financial benefits for 2024-25 and associated governance and decision-making arrangements. The Council’s Chief Executive, Rob Polkinghorne, introduced the report.

Councillor Ken Edwards addressed the committee as a visiting Member and highlighted his concerns relating to the Council’s Transformation Plan, particularly in light of the Best Value notice from Government. Councillor Edwards welcomed the report and the assurance from the Chief Executive to ensuring that the Corporate Policy Committee and wider Members were provided with regular comprehensive progress reports going forward. Councillor Edwards stated the importance of driving forward the Council’s Transformation Programme and Improvement Plan at pace.

Councillor L Wardlaw addressed the committee as a visiting Member and asked several questions in relation to the Council’s Transformation Partner and sought clarity on the steps the Council was taking to assure value for money from the services being provided. It was queried why comprehensive progress reports had not previously been provided to Members and which committee had oversight and scrutiny of the Transformation Programme, including the contract with the Council’s Transformation Partner. Councillor Wardlaw queried the role of the Leader and Deputy Leader in relation to the transformation mobilisation plans and if the Leader and Deputy Leader were aware of the fees associated with the Transformation Partner. Finally, Cllr Wardlaw queried when officers had become aware of the £5m fees associated with the Council’s Transformation Partner and where exactly this had been referenced within the Full Council report from July 2025.

The committee welcomed the report and agreed that whilst regular comprehensive updates had not been provided to the committee, that there was a strong commitment to doing so going forward. The committee agreed that this was a positive step-forward and that the focus of the committee should now move from process to outcomes, to enable the committee to effectively measure the success of the Transformation Plan. It was confirmed that the committee, and Members, would be provided with clear cashable and non-cashable savings, along with milestones relating to delivery to enable Members to hold officers to account. The committee agreed that future reports should provide assurance and set out clearly the overall costs and benefits (including economic) of transformation as well as timeframes for when key decisions would come forward.

The committee sought assurance in relation to contract management and the steps being taken to ensure value for money from the Council’s Transformation Partner. It was clarified that there were regular meetings with the Council’s Transformation Partner and formal contract management measures in place relating to invoices and deliverables against the contract.

A friendly amendment was proposed and accepted by the committee in relation to Recommendation 3, as summarised below.

1. Agree that the committee receives a progress update on delivery of the Transformation Plan, financial and non-financial benefits, for quarter 1 (and provisional Q2)2025/26 and alongside the first financial review (quarter 1) in October 2025

RESOLVED (unanimously):

That the Corporate Policy Committee

1.    Note and comment on the delivery of the Transformation Plan in 2024/25 including expenditure, financial and non-financial benefits.

2.    Note that Service Committees will be the decision makers for relevant transformation business cases that propose a significant change in Council policy and inform the budget setting process with Corporate Policy Committee providing oversight and decision making for the overall transformation plan, budget and MTFS as set out in the Constitution.

3.    Agree that this Committee receives a progress update on delivery of the Transformation Plan, financial and non-financial benefits, for quarter 1 (and provisional Q2) 2025/26 alongside the first financial review (quarter 1) in October 2025.

4.    Agree that the approach to a new overarching Corporate Improvement and Delivery Plan includes transformation.

5.    Agree that the Corporate Improvement and Delivery Plan is a standing item for quarterly progress updates from October 2025 aligned to financial reporting going forward.