Hampshire, New Forest | Posted on March 7th, 2025 | return to news
New Forest council praised in local government report
Reviewers from the Local Government Association praised New Forest District Council’s leadership and financial management.
New Forest District Council (NFDC) has been commended for its strong leadership, financial stability, and commitment to partnership working in a recent review.
NFDC took part in the Corporate Peer Challenge offered by the Local Government Association, a national body representing councils and local authorities across England and Wales. The Corporate Peer Challenge is a free service offered by the LGA, where a diverse team of experienced peers comprising of senior local government councillors and officers reviews a council’s key finance, performance and governance information.
The review took place in December 2024 and saw the team spend three days examining how NFDC operates, engaging with over 130 people across more than 40 meetings with staff, councillors, and external partners.
The resulting report highlighted NFDC’s strengths, including its clear understanding of local priorities, sound financial management, and highly visible leadership. The review team also noted that NFDC is well-respected regionally and plays an active role in shaping partnerships that benefit residents.
Cllr Jill Cleary, leader of NFDC, welcomed the report and said: “This is a fantastic endorsement of the work we do every day to serve our communities. It reflects our ambition to be a forward-thinking council while staying financially responsible.
“I’m particularly proud of the recognition given to our workforce – they are the backbone of NFDC and the reason we continue to succeed.”
Kate Ryan, chief executive of NFDC, said: “With local government reorganisation on the horizon, this review has come at an important time, and we are determined to remain a strong and effective council, working with our partners to deliver the best outcomes for our residents, now and in the future.
“We are pleased with this positive recognition and fully embrace the recommendations for improvement. Our action plan will ensure we continue learning, evolving, and delivering excellent services.”
The review did highlight areas for improvement, including strengthening overview and scrutiny functions to enhance transparency and continuing work on an assets strategy to maintain financial sustainability. NFDC is now developing an action plan to address the recommendations, and the council’s progress will be assessed by the review team in autumn 2025.
To view the LGA report, visit https://www.newforest.gov.uk/article/3938/Local-Government-Association-Corporate-Peer-Challenge-Report.
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