Cabinet has today received an update on the Council’s first quarter’s performance against the Knowsley Council Plan 2025-2030 and strategic risks.
The Council continues to make good progress against its priorities and is taking all possible steps to manage its strategic risks. The Council’s priorities are:-
- Deliver effective, high-quality services and support
- Encourage growth that benefits everyone
- Deliver targeted support to encourage fairness and opportunity
Throughout the first quarter of 2026/27, the Council has delivered significant improvements for residents, strengthened key partnerships, advanced major regeneration projects, and maintained a strong focus on supporting vulnerable adults and made sustained progress on delivering improvements for the Borough’s children and young people – which continues to be the number one priority for the Council.
Key achievements include progress being made on the Children’s Social Care improvement programme, with positive feedback received following a Department for Education review which recognised the commitment of Knowsley’s children’s workforce and improvements in core practice, while all four Council-run children’s homes remain rated Good by Ofsted.
SEND improvement priorities are continuing, high-quality in-Borough provision has increased and further support provided through the Autism Advisory Service.
In Health and Adult Social Care, the Better Care Fund Plan 2026/27 has now been approved, the 2026/27 Adult Social Care fee rates have been implemented, and in May the Care Quality Commission published its report following the inspection of the Rapid Response and Reablement Service in March rating the service as ‘good’ against all five inspection criteria.
Town Centre developments continue to progress well, including in Kirkby where significant advances have been made across several sites including the new Lidl supermarket, whilst in Huyton planning permission has been secured for Cavendish Walk which will see a new Community Hub providing a mixed-use space including a library.
Knowsley achieved its 21st green flag status for Old Rough Park, and the new improved play facilities at Finch Woods opened in August.
Nutritional free school meals were also available to eligible families as part of the Holiday Activities and Food Programme and in June, Cabinet agreed £0.730m for round two of the Knowsley Community Fund, enabling the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector to support the Borough’s ambition to help residents to thrive and to overcome inequality.
The Council confirmed a balanced budget position for 2025/26 in the year end outturn report considered by the Cabinet in June 2026, once again achieved without any cuts to services or jobs.
Cabinet also considered the strategic risk register, with the removal of the introduction of the food waste service as this was successfully delivered from April 2026.
Cllr Graham Morgan, Leader of Knowsley Council, said “I’m pleased with the progress made so far on the Knowsley Council Plan 2025-2030 which puts residents at the heart of everything that we do. We will continue to build on our achievements and our commitment to improving outcomes for residents, investing in communities, supporting vulnerable children and adults, driving regeneration, and creating opportunities for people to thrive.”