Independent experts say city authority is ‘getting things done’.
Milton Keynes City Council has been praised for its high performance, strong leadership and motivated workforce in an independent report published today.
The report, from the Local Government Association (LGA), sets out the findings of a team of leading councillors and experienced senior officers from other English councils who scrutinised key documents and performance data.
They spent four days in Milton Keynes, meeting more than 100 councillors, employees, partner and representatives from community organisations, to comprehensively review how the council is performing for residents.
The team commended MKCC for ‘getting things done, and getting them done well’, describing it as a ‘high-performing and well-run council with a strong track record of delivery’.
Employees were recognised as being motivated and proud to work at the City Council, where there is a ‘caring and inclusive culture, where colleagues are empowered by visible senior leaders to continuously identify ways to do things better to improve service delivery’.
Council leaders are cited as a particular strength, as is the council’s track record for taking finances seriously and delivering balanced budgets. Successes highlighted in the report include building affordable homes and increasing recycling rates. MK has the biggest increase of any place in England.
Recommendations to help the council included: making improvements to its overview and scrutiny functions, further collaboration with voluntary and community groups, and marketing the city’s achievements to a wider audience.
“This is a really positive independent report, and I’m especially proud that we’ve been recognised by our peers for getting things done and getting them done well,” said Council Leader Cllr Pete Marland said.
“Every day I see a team of dedicated councillors and colleagues across the council who are doing their best to give local people the services they want and need. I’m very pleased the LGA team have seen this first hand.”
