We mark 18 months of solid, sustained improvement

We've published our latest progress update, marking 18 months of significant and measurable improvement as we continue delivering our robust, three-year Improvement Plan.  

This latest update, to be presented to Full Council on 24 February, highlights determined advancements over the last six months across governance, compliance, housing services, collaboration with Waverley Borough Council, finance, and organisational performance. This will be accompanied by the Independent Assurance Panel's (IAP) third assessment, which is an external view to the Council and residents on our progress on delivery of the Improvement Plan.  

In their report, the IAP has recognised that we are continuing to progress on our improvement journey, notably improving our services to tenants; and that the risk of the Council not complying with Best Value Standards is now lower. The Panel recognises that we are only partway through a three-year improvement journey and we continue to manage risks such as supporting the emerging Local Government Reorganisation in Surrey, and to sustain the progress made in the Council's Housing Services.  

Cllr Julia McShane, Leader of the Council, said:  

"I'm incredibly proud of the meaningful progress we've made over the last 18 months, but I'm equally clear that we still have further to go. This is a journey of openness, honesty, and accountability. We're committed to delivering quality public services that our residents deserve, and I want to thank every resident who has shared their experience with us so far. Challenging us to do better, helps shape the journey we're on and this most recent assessment shows how far we've come. 

"I'm grateful for the ongoing support and expertise of the Independent Assurance Panel and confident that by working together we will deliver the long-term improvements our communities deserve."  

This latest report will be considered by Full Council on Tuesday 24 February.

The next update on the Improvement Plan will be in six months' time in Autumn 2026.   

Read Our Journey to Improvement.

Published on: 19 February 2026