A Corporate Peer Challenge (CPC) is a highly valued improvement and assurance tool that is delivered by the sector for local government.

It involved a team of senior local government councillors and officers undertaking a comprehensive review of key finance, performance and governance information and then spending four days at North Herts Council to provide robust, strategic, and credible challenge and support.

In a report published to coincide with a Cabinet meeting (14th January) the CPC revealed a concern that "peers feel the organisation's resources and capacity are not aligned with the council plan priorities and tough decisions will be needed to ensure the right people and skills are in the right places to effectively deliver".

The concern "is particularly felt with vacancies in the Enterprise team". This links closely to the future of the Churchgate redevelopment in Hitchin.

The report recognises that "having been risk averse in the past, the council is now looking to redevelop a large part of Hitchin town centre, and whilst this presents a number of place-shaping opportunities, this capital project has the potential to expose the council to many internal and external risks".

Indeed, the report is clear that Churchgate is seen "as an opportunity and a risk for the council". They point to the need for "ongoing budget allocation...to ensure deliverability, recognising the fact that there will be a significant loss of income over a long period when the shopping centre is demolished and rebuilt".

The report praises the council for being in a "strong financial position with good reserves and low borrowing" and recommends that when it comes to Churchgate "it is vital the council continues to review the capacity and resources required for the next stage" of the redevelopment.

The council now has until April 4^th to design an action plan to take forward the recommendations.