A comprehensive peer review by the Local Government Association (LGA) has highlighted Fylde Council’s strong foundations in delivering high-quality local services and maintaining strong community support. The review, conducted in September 2024, praised the Council’s enthusiastic and knowledgeable workforce and its prudent financial management.
The LGA report states: “Fylde Council has strong foundations, providing good local services and achieving very positive customer satisfaction ratings across several service areas.” The service areas scoring particularly well with customer satisfaction are refuse collection (98%), household recycling (94%), and parks and open spaces (94%). The borough was also celebrated as an attractive destination, with 97% of residents rating Fylde as a good place to visit and 96% as a good place to live.
The LGA Peer team further noted: “Considering the council’s place leadership role, Fylde Council is well-regarded by its statutory and non-statutory partners at the local and regional level, and there are strong relationships between the council and partners operating in the borough, at both an operational and strategic level.”
The report also recognised Fylde’s diverse and robust economy, encompassing manufacturing, energy, aeronautics, and tourism sectors, along with two Enterprise Zones that position the borough for future growth. The peer team identified untapped economic potential and suggested a review of the council’s appetite to risk be undertaken and smart delivery planning throughout the organisation be adopted.
Financially, the review commended the Council’s prudent management, noting that Fylde Council is “comparatively financially robust” and “well-regarded by both internal and external auditors.”
Other recommendations from the LGA review team included the need to address the challenges of recruitment and retention in a small local authority, as well maximising the partnerships with other organisations to get best value for Fylde residents. Work around reviewing the committee structure of the council, which changed in 2023 when the number of councillors reduced from 51 to 37, is also suggested, along with recognising the important contribution from both members and officers.
In terms of leadership, the team stated: “The Council has moved from being inward-focussed to more outward-focussed over the last 18 months, and this is particularly welcomed by external partners.”
Council Leader, Cllr Karen Buckley, commented: “I am delighted that this independent review has recognised the dedication and hard work of our council staff in delivering excellent services to our residents. We are proud of the achievements noted by the Peer Team but are not complacent about there being more to do. We look forward to taking on board their valuable recommendations to further improve our services and unlock Fylde’s full potential.”
Read the full report here: LGA Corporate Peer Challenge Feedback Report
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