POWYS County Council leader Cllr Jake Berriman has defended the authority’s annual self-assessment as an honest appraisal of the last year.
At a meeting of the council’s Governance and Audit committee on Friday, June 26, councillors and independent lay members were concerned that the document that chronicles the work of the authority for 2025/2026 is an exercise in marking its own homework.
Cllr Berriman (Liberal Democrat – Llandrindod North) presented the draft document at the meeting, asking for the committee’s endorsement.
He explained that the assessment helps the council find out “what works well, where improvements are needed” and how to improve services for residents.
Cllr Berriman said: “Strong overall progress has been made across the council’s three corporate objectives.”
He said that the council performance in several areas “exceeded targets.”
“Nevertheless” he added that there are challenges due to ongoing financial pressures that affect children’s placements, causing school budget deficits and creating housing pressures.
Cllr Pete Lewington (Conservative – Newtown West) said “It’s a self-assessment on how the council thinks it’s performing.”
He pointed out that the council was acting as “poacher and gamekeeper” in the assessment.
“We can’t actually ask other people what they think of us,” said Cllr Lewington.
Cllr Adam Kennerley (Liberal Democrat – Newtown North): “I read a lot of positive phraseology in this report that I don’t think resonates with many councillors experience of how we go out and engage and collaborate with residents and front-line staff.
“My concern about that it gives a sense to the reader that we’re not being honest – we do good stuff – but I don’t think we do great stuff.”
He believed that being more transparent would “build trust” between the council and residents.
Cllr Berriman said: “I want to address head on the sense we’re being dishonest with ourselves and the public.
“I don’t think that is the case.
“We see throughout the report and honest reflection we highlight the challenges that we face – everything is not rosy in the garden, and we do point out the good and bad.”
Cllr Kennerley stressed that he wanted it noted in the minutes that his comments did “not imply dishonesty.”
The committee agreed to endorse the document which is set to go before the Liberal Democrat/Labour cabinet next month.
