The Key Communication Messages from the meeting of the Improvement Board held on 20 July 2012 are attached.

Councillor Ann McLachlan asked the Cabinet to note the Key Messages from the meeting of the Improvement Board held on 20 July 2012 which had been included with the agenda.  Issues discussed at the meeting included the following:

• the welcome appointment of Graham Burgess,. the changing role, size and governance of the Council in the light of significantly streamlined budgets;

·  the need for the Council to deliver on its core purpose of assuring the improvement process, endorsing those issues which related to corporate governance, leadership and improvement process but being clear that the decision making role rested with the Council For the next six months, the Board will monitor

  achievements in terms of improvement,

  ensure that Wirral has support and commentary on progress,   and that,

  it has delivered changes following appropriate consultation 

·  Councillors and Officers sharing ownership of the Improvement Plan

·  findings of the Peer Review work with the Adult Social Care Directorate

Councillor McLachlan also reported that there had been a further meeting of the Improvement Board on 21 September 2012.  The view of the Improvement Board now was that the Council should take ownership and control of its Improvement Plan that had been agreed by the Cabinet at its meeting on 6 September 2012 (Minute No. 77refers).  The Council was now at the implementation stage with its projects.

Councillor McLachlan informed that the Improvement Board had welcomed the positive comments from the District Auditor in respect of the Highway and Engineering Services Contract Management and Award - Action Plan.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Ann McLachlan’s oral report be received and the Key Communication Messages from the Meeting of the Improvement Board held on 20 July 2012 be agreed.