A SIMPLIFIED easy read version of Powys council’s annual self-assessment of its performance will be produced over the summer, the leader has said.
At a meeting of Powys County Council’s Governance and Audit committee on Friday, June 26 councillors and independent lay members received the draft council assessment document for 2025/2026.
Council leader Cllr Jake Berriman (Liberal Democrat – Llandrindod North) presented the document and said: “The report is a key requirement under the local government and elections Wales acts 2021 it also meets our requirements under the Equalities Act 2010.
“That is important because I know members sometime reflect as to whether we’re addressing the right audience and whether a report of this complexity speaks to our residents.
“But we have to bear in mind the statutory requirements and framework within which it sits.”
He explained that the assessment helps the council find out “what works well, where improvements are needed” and how to improve services for residents.
Independent lay member Gareth Hall said that Cllr Berriman had reminded the committee of the target audience for the self-assessment and asked: “How can this document be meaningful to the residents of Powys?”
He wanted to see “practical examples” of good council work included as case studies and where “room for improvement” is needed how the authority will do this.
Cllr Berriman: “Once we’ve got a final document after July 14, we will produce an easy read version of this, and it can pull out examples that you are looking for.”
Cllr Adam Kennerley (Liberal Democrat – Newtown North) said: “I welcome producing an easy read version and that should become standard.”
The committee endorsed the draft document which will go before a meeting of the Liberal Democrat/Labour cabinet to be rubber stamped on July 14.
