Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Head of Policy and Strategic Services on the achievement of objectives in “Growing Success” – the Council’s Corporate Plan.

noted the Council’s performance against targets within the Corporate Plan – “Growing Success”

The Cabinet received and noted a report by the Head of Policy and Strategic Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which reviewed the Council’s performance against targets within the Corporate Plan – “Growing Success”.  In so doing, Executive Councillors were advised that the timing of the preparation of a new Sustainable Community Strategy and Local Area Agreement would facilitate the review of the Corporate Plan in late summer for submission to Council in September 2008.

To consider a report by the Head of Policy and Strategic Services outlining performance management information on Growing Success – the Council’s Corporate Plan.

(Councillor L M Simpson, Executive Councillor for Headquarters and Information Technology was in attendance for this item).

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Policy and Strategic Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Panel considered the performance of the authority against the priority objectives identified in “Growing Success”, the corporate plan adopted by the Council in April 2007.

In response to a question regarding the Call Centre’s under-achievement in the percentage of calls answered within 20 seconds, Councillor Simpson informed the Panel that this was due to the extension of the welcome message to include an automated bus pass option, thereby increasing the length of the message to exceed 20 seconds.  The measure had been formally suspended in October 2007 and Councillor Simpson advised that customer satisfaction levels had not been affected adversely. 

RESOLVED

  that the contents of the report be noted.

To consider and comment on a report by the Head of Policy and Strategic Services containing details of the Council’s performance against its priority objectives.

(Colour copies of this report are attached separately to the Agenda).

20 Minutes.

The Panel considered a report by the Head of Policy and Strategic Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) containing details of the Council’s performance against its priority objectives.  In introducing the findings of the Corporate Plan Working Group on the report, Councillor P G Mitchell commented that a number of the key activities that contributed to the priority objectives allocated to the Panel fell outside its remit.  He also reported on the Working Group’s suggested areas for further investigation, which included green energy generation, the promotion of the Council’s leisure centres, grant aid and home improvement grants.  Finally, Councillor Mitchell drew Members’ attention to an opportunity to contribute towards the objective to achieve a low level of homelessness through grant funding available for the acquisition of gypsy and traveller sites.  With regard to the latter, owing to the limited time for which the funding was available, Councillor Mitchell and the Chairman undertook to pursue this directly with Officers.

 Councillor Mrs M Banerjee commented on the low level of funding available to registered social landlords and on the delivery of affordable housing through the development control process.

Having discussed the data provided for each of the objectives referred to in the report, the Panel expressed their satisfaction with the levels of performance achieved in the year to date.  Members also agreed to incorporate the areas suggested for further investigation by the Corporate Plan Working Group into the review of Growing Success.  Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that the report be received and noted.