Agenda item

To receive and respond to the findings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee‘s review of the quarter one performance management information. 

That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s comments on the Performance Management Report for Quarter Two of 2015/16 be NOTED.  

64.1           The report of the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, circulated at Pages No. 19-72, asked Members to review and, if appropriate, take action against the observations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee following its review of the 2015/16 quarter two performance management information.

64.2           Attention was drawn to the observations made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, attached to the report at Appendix 1; the Council Plan Performance Tracker, attached at Appendix 2; the Key Performance Indicator set, attached at Appendix 3; Revenue Budget Summary Statement, attached at Appendix 4; the Capital Monitoring Statement attached at Appendix 5; and the Revenues Position Summary which was attached to the report at Appendix 6. The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee explained that his Committee was becoming much more challenging now which he felt was encouraging.

64.3           In offering an overview of the Committee’s discussion, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Chairman advised that progress on Council performance over the past quarter was generally good with some key areas of excellent performance such as the new leisure centre and the processing times for benefits applications. Given the level of detail, and range of performance reported, Members were also made aware of areas that were not progressing as planned. A Member had noted from the performance report that waste to landfill had increased and, in response, the Deputy Chief Executive had explained that recycling was becoming increasingly contaminated which could result in it not being accepted at the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). Members had also been informed that a recent food waste campaign had resulted in a 20 percent increase in food waste recycling. In terms of an update on agreeing an approach and programme of work for the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), the Deputy Chief Executive explained that a Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule (PDCS) had been out to consultation in the summer. 30 responses had been received from developers and the next big step was to decide on whether to charge for strategic allocations. In terms of delivery, until the outcome of the JCS examination was known, it was very difficult to make any decisions in relation to CIL charges.  The Deputy Chief Executive was hopeful that a future report would give a clear direction for Officers to move onto the next stage of consultation in respect of the CIL. In terms of the reduction in the number of homeless applications, the Committee had recognised the hard work which had been carried out to achieve this. With regard to the average number of sickness absences, the Committee was delighted to note the improvement. The Chief Executive had also made Members aware of a new Development Management team staff structure which it was hoped would address the problems with resources in that area. In terms of Overview and Scrutiny generally, the Chairman was keen to ensure its ongoing effectiveness. To support this, the Corporate team had developed a quarterly newsletter for all Members which would provide a range of information on Overview and Scrutiny matters, including what the Committee had been working on, as well as what was happening in Committees across the County and beyond. The Chairman advised that he had also asked Democratic Services to book a speed reading course for all Members, which would take place on 2 February. This would be extremely helpful, given the length of some of the Committee reports Members were asked to read. There would also be a workshop for Overview and Scrutiny Committee Members coming soon, which would allow them to give their views on how the Committee was working. This would be especially useful given the majority of the Committee was made up of new Members and they could perhaps offer ideas on how the Council could scrutinise more effectively.

64.4           During the discussion which ensued, a Member referred to Page No. 34, Review customer feedback systems in service areas to ensure there is a consistent and appropriate approach, and questioned why there was no indication of the progress made to date. In response, the Corporate Services Group Manager indicated that this had been a recommendation from the Peer Challenge Team but it had not yet commenced as a project; it was anticipated that it would commence this quarter but was also part of the new Customer Care Standards which were currently being worked up. In reference to Page No. 45, Work in partnership with Citizens’ Advice Bureau to provide better outcomes for our residents, a Member expressed concern that the figures provided were ‘skewed’ as some areas were split down into specific areas and some were not. She also noted that reference was made to ‘Cleeve St Johns’ and advised that this should read ‘Churchdown St Johns’; she explained that she had asked for this to be amended on a number of occasions. In response, the Deputy Chief Executive indicated that the information within the report was an analysis of the information provided by the Citizens’ Advice Bureau and, as such, needed to be addressed by Officers. In respect of the Bureau in Winchcombe, a Member noted that it used to be operated as a drop-in but now residents needed to make an appointment, he questioned whether this was the case across the Borough or just in Winchcombe. The Deputy Chief Executive undertook to investigate. A Member indicated that the Council used to have a representative on the Gloucester and District Citizens’ Advice Bureau and he questioned whether this was still the case. The Borough Solicitor advised that it remained the case and she would advise who the representative was after the meeting. The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee advised that his Committee would receive its annual report from the Citizens Advice Bureau at its meeting on 23 February and he invited any Members that wished to hear that to come along to the meeting. Attention was also drawn to Page No. 28 and a Member requested an update on the Community Infrastructure Levy. In response, the Deputy Chief Executive advised that the report which had been commissioned had now been received and was being reviewed by Officers. It made recommendations on the application of the CIL and the best way to get the maximum income from it. There was some national consultation currently ongoing on how effective it was and the Council’s Member Working Group would meet in the next few weeks to discuss this; there would then be an all Member seminar on the subject with a report to Council prior to the Joint Core Strategy process being concluded. There were no exact timescales available at this time.

64.5           Having considered the information provided, it was