Ceredigion County Council website

Ceredigion is one of the first County Councils in Wales to be assessed, and the results provide assurance to the public that Ceredigion is a well-run authority. The full report can be viewed here: https://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/media/042p1b2z/panel-peformance-assessment.pdf

The new duty to undertake a Panel Performance Assessment was introduced via Welsh Government legislation. It requires that a Panel Performance Assessment is carried out once in every election cycle to provide an independent and external perspective on how the Council is meeting the performance requirements. The assessment must consider whether the Council is exercising its functions effectively, using its resources economically, efficiently, and effectively, and that it has effective governance in place to secure this.

The assessment was undertaken by a panel of trained peers from across the public, private and voluntary sectors, who concluded that:

 Considering the current high service demands and very challenging financial pressures, Ceredigion County Council is a well-run local authority.

• The Council has clear and effective leadership with strong relationships across the political and officer executive and wider structures and that the Council is delivering its functions effectively in-light of the significant financial, strategic, and operational pressures the Council is dealing daily.
• The Council has effective governance and reporting arrangements in place but there is an opportunity to further strengthen the relationships between the Council’s executive and back bench members in the decision-making processes and priorities the Council will need to take going forward.
• The Council has established and is developing areas of innovation including Well Being Centres, ICT, and hybrid working.
• Opportunities for improvement have been identified, which will enhance the arrangements in place, to support effective communication, relationship management and collective ownership of current and future challenges. 

The panel of peers are also required to identify recommendations that the Council could take to improve its performance even further. The recommendations will now be considered, and a response will be presented to the Governance and Audit Committee and Cabinet shortly.

Councillor Bryan Davies, Leader of the Council said: “The results of this independent performance panel are very encouraging. We received a very thorough assessment by an external panel of peers which has provided us with a reassurance that our procedures are effective and that the council is well run. The innovative schemes that have been developed by Ceredigion County Council including social care, the independent living centre, taking over the running of Hafan y Waun Care Home and working with the Health Board to provide a ward for patients leaving hospital care, information technology and effective hybrid working. The panel noted that it would be beneficial to share these innovations with other Authorities. I would like to say a huge thank you to all the officers and for the leadership of the Cabinet as well as the Members involved with scrutinising, who have contributed to this success, which is a source of pride for us all, and evidence that the ethos of the Team Ceredigion is working well”.