AN INDEPENDENT review has described a council as an “ambitious” authority wanting to increase services to support residents, but says it needs to create clearer priorities.

Richmondshire District Council invited the Local Government Association to carry out a review into its work and identify ways in which it can improve and grow.

Five members of the peer review team spent a week with the authority last November talking to council staff, councillors, partners and stakeholders.

Their findings have now been published and an action plan to address findings will be considered by members of the authority’s Corporate Board in June.

The report says that the council is an ambitious authority wanting to increase services where it can support local residents, but said to achieve its aspirations for development and growth it needed to focus on creating clear priorities and actions and encourage wider engagement with stakeholders.

“The Peer Review has confirmed a good deal of what we know – people like working for the council and we are ambitious,” said council leader, Councillor Yvonne Peacock.

“Now we need to take stock of the finer details of the report and agree a plan of action to move things forward.

“That includes looking at maximising our influence with existing and potential partners, considering further income generation options and prioritising the use of our funds to meet our key objectives.”

The review team also suggested the council developed its work with outside agencies and looked to other bodies that worked with the Ministry of Defence and national parks authorities to improve learning.

“The review team recognised that we have leverage to maximise the benefits of partnership working for our residents and communities – but found people did not know about our work,” added Cllr Peacock.

“We need to ensure we improve this and get the recognition we deserve.”

She said the team praised the council’s work with housing partners – the willingness to facilitate new housing schemes and the provision of affordable homes in deeply rural areas.

While there is a healthy financial balance now, the council and review team recognised there will be challenges ahead with strategic decisions needed to ensure the local authority could continue to deliver all of its services.