Cabinet welcome progress on Corporate Peer Challenge findings
Progress continues to be made by St Helens Borough Council after independent reviewers last year said the council had been 'transformed' for the better.
Article date: 20 March 2026
Cabinet welcomed the findings of a follow up visit following on from the Local Government Association Corporate Peer Challenge, which took place in February 2025. The report reviews the steps the council has taken to deliver actions that were outlined in the original plan.
Council Leader Councillor Anthony Burns said: "This latest report shows the council is delivering high quality services, which is matched with our Good Ofsted, Good CQC ratings and independent recognition from auditors we're carefully managing our budget. We're now moving forward positively and continuing to deliver the services that residents depend on day to day, while investing in creating a brighter future through our ambitious plans for St Helens Borough."
This most recent review looked at three key areas that incorporated the 10 recommendations that reviewers had last year which were:
· Financial resilience
· Organisational development and resilience
· Place leadership and regeneration
Under the first theme reviewers found that there is strengthened financial governance with new check and challenge sessions with senior officers and portfolio holders, stronger monitoring and scrutiny through the Budget and Performance Board and that action has been taken to control overspend in children's services including demand management and expanding in-house placement capacity.
The second theme showed a refreshed approach to transformation and locality working that provided a clear and consistent understanding by officers. The new Thriving Together Workforce Strategy had also been introduced to help guide develop and support staff.
The final theme reviewers recognised that the council continued to deliver on key regeneration projects like Parkside Link Road and Omega, there was also improved prioritisation, phasing and capacity planning across the regeneration programme and that inclusive growth remains central to the council's approach.
In its report the review team said: "The council has made good progress against the recommendations made in the original Corporate Peer Challenge in February 2025. The council can point to numerous examples to demonstrate its progress, including a more coherent strategic framework that prioritises people, place, and performance and aligns more to its overall ambitions which continue to have regeneration and inclusive growth at their heart."
Work will continue to meet the recommendations with a plan in place to continue to deliver them in the coming year.