The passion and ambition for the city displayed by Hull City Council has received praise in a Local Government Association (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge report.
The report highlights that a “sense of pride and ownership is infectious and widespread” throughout the organisation and acknowledges that senior leaders are “engaging and widely recognised for their passion and commitment to the city.”
The report has been published after a team of senior officers and councillors from other UK local authorities carried out a 4-day visit to Hull in October 2024.
They spoke to more than 115 people, including a range of council staff, elected members and external stakeholders.
As detailed within the report, the team found a culture and identity that has “galvanised around a positive vision for the future which has been developed by the council and its partners through its recently created Community Plan 2024-2034.”
It added: “The process developed by the council to create the plan has been energising and has been built on extensive and authentic engagement across Hull.”
The Leader of Hull City Council, Councillor Mike Ross, said: “I welcome the report and what the team found when they joined us in Hull.
“They saw a council that is committed to the city and a city that is a place with real potential.
“It is a really positive report and my thanks go to all those involved.
“We are not complacent and know that this report demonstrates the progress being made as a council and that the authority is making the improvements it needs to make.
“We know too, though, that there is always more that can be done to improve how the council serves the community of Hull.
“I am pleased that the team recognised effective leadership of the council and that it is an organisation determined to get the best for the city.”
The report says the Community Plan was developed through “extensive and finely tuned community engagement”, with good usage of social media channels, the council’s website, and bespoke events.
It described this as “a good example of how the council can galvanise across its departments and work with key partners to listen to local communities.”
Hull City Council’s strong responses to a number of major events were highlighted as positive examples of how the organisation has supported communities, through sympathetic and collaborative work with residents and partners.
The council was also commended for focusing on culture as a catalyst for growth, with the report saying the council’s ability to leverage the legacy from UK City of Culture 2017 for ongoing regeneration “sets it apart from many of its peer local authorities.”
The Chief Executive of Hull City Council, Matt Jukes, said: “I strongly support the LGA’s Corporate Peer Challenge process, which is carried out by people experienced in local government and the services we provide, as it independently assesses what we’re doing and how we’re doing it.
“This is a positive review, which praises the work our people are doing and recognises the council’s workforce as a tremendous asset with a clear and palpable passion for Hull the place and Hull the council.
“We will never become complacent as a council, and we know there are challenges ahead.
“We will respond positively to the recommendations outlined in the report to help us improve our services to our residents.
“The report concludes that we have many of the right things in place to help us achieve our objectives and that the future can be incredibly bright for Hull.”
The Peer Challenge team made a number of recommendations to the council, including to grasp the opportunities brought by devolution, as well as creating a constant focus on pace to build momentum.
It also made recommendations surrounding strategic partnership and delivery, financial planning, and organisational leadership and delivery, with the findings setting a framework for an action plan to respond to the issues identified within the report.
The report can be read here: LGA Corporate Peer Challenge Hull City Council.
