Agenda item

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

That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s comments on the Performance Management Report for Quarter Two of 2018/19 be NOTED. 

57.1           The report of the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, circulated at Pages No. 15-62, asked Members to review and, if appropriate, take action on the observations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee following its review of the 2018/19 quarter two performance management information.

57.2           Attention was drawn to the observations made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, attached at Appendix 1 to the report, to the Council Plan Performance Tracker, attached to the report at Appendix 2, and to the financial performance information circulated at Appendices 3-5.

57.3           The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee explained that the Committee had noted the summary of key actions undertaken within the period which were mainly centred around assets and consultations in relation to planning-related issues. Those were summarised in Paragraph 2.3 of the report and included asset related projects such as additional commercial property investment; appointment of Mace Group Ltd as development advisors for the Spring Gardens project; the official launch of the Growth Hub; the fundamental completion of the Public Service Centre refurbishment; and the commencement of works to the Lower Lode depot. In terms of consultations those included, the Ashchurch concept masterplan; the Tewkesbury Town Centre Supplementary Planning Document; and the Tewkesbury Borough Plan. Overview and Scrutiny Committee Members had also noted the draft commercial strategy which had since been approved. The implementation of the strategy, and its related projects, would be vitally important in helping to bridge the financial challenges the Council faced. At the time of reporting, none of the actions contained in the Council Plan were showing concern and the Committee awaited the next performance report with interest, especially as a number of actions had key milestones which would be arising shortly. At previous Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings the feasibility of dates had been discussed and the Chair understood that Officers were reviewing that issue moving forward. Particular questions on the performance tracker had included how the work of Mace Group Ltd could be extended to look beyond the Spring Gardens project with a wider Tewkesbury town scope; the effect of the opening of the Growth Hub on the parking at the Public Services Centre; the slippage of timescales in relation to the increase of the heritage offer at the Battlefield site; whether the action relating to the Tourist Information Centre would be delivered by April 2019; and when the Place Strategy workshop would take place given the initial intention had been to hold it in November 2018. In respect of performance indicators, the Members had sought assurance that actions were being taken to improve the performance of the Revenues and Benefits team and had been encouraged to hear that the majority of long-term sickness absence cases had returned to work and that there should be improvement in those figures, particularly in the final quarter of the year. The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee also indicated that there had been a debate on the monitoring of the planning service and concern expressed about performance. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee had been advised that the Head of Development Services would be undertaking a piece of work to review the number of Planning Committee decisions which were taken against Officer advice to establish if there were any training needs. From his own perspective, the Chair had concerns about the Council’s five-year housing land supply and the recent Appeal Inspector’s decision on the matter.

57.4           During the discussion which ensued, a Member thanked Officers for organising an additional A40 consultation meeting in Innsworth – she felt it had been extremely worthwhile and appreciated by residents. Referring to the work that Mace Group Ltd was doing on the Spring Gardens and Oldbury Road regeneration project, a Member questioned whether they were aware of the recent government announcement that millions of pounds would be made available to improve town centres and High Streets. In response, the Deputy Chief Executive explained that Mace Group Ltd was aware of the funding and was looking into how the Council’s project could fit into a funding bid. There was a need to establish whether the money was for ‘desperate’ town centres that needed to be reinvigorated or for the enhancement of town centres like Tewkesbury. In addition, the Head of Finance and Asset Management confirmed that, even though the scope of Mace Group Ltd work had been widened, its focus would continue to be Spring Gardens and Oldbury Road and that would form the main recommendation in its report.

57.5           Accordingly, it was