Issue - meetings

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 over the ensuing year.

Considered and noted the results of the performance for priority objectives in the Council’s Corporate Plan.

By way of a report by the Head of Policy and Strategic Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Cabinet considered the Council’s operational performance against 37 short, medium and long-term objectives presented in “Growing Success” – the Council’s Corporate Plan.  The views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panels (Service Delivery) and (Service Support) also were submitted to the meeting (copies of which also are appended in the Minute Book).

In terms of those objectives where actual performance had not progressed as well as anticipated, Executive Members were assured that a system was now in place to ensure that applications for loft and cavity wall insulation were being processed within five working days and it was accepted that the current economic downturn had adversely affected the ability of the Council to achieve the target of affordable housing commitments on qualifying sites.

Referring to the comments by the Head of Housing Services on the objective “to achieve a low level of homelessness”, it was confirmed that the data collated reflected the current position in the District only but that the Council was aware that homelessness and the need for debt advice was increasing and that additional financial provision had been made available to the Citizens Advice Bureau and other voluntary organisations by the County Council to assist in this respect.  Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that, subject to the foregoing comments, the performance achieved against priority objectives contained within “Growing Success” the Council’s Corporate Plan be received and noted.

To consider a report by the Director of Central Services outlining performance information on “Growing Success” – the Council’s Corporate Plan.

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 updated by the Council in September 2008.

Having noted that most of the targets within the priority areas allocated to the Service Support Panel were being met or exceeded, comment was made in relation to the target of maximising leisure centre income. While this had fallen against target, Members acknowledged that the loss of income had been more than offset by reductions in expenditure in the Leisure Centres as a whole.

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 over the ensuing year.

(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. Having endorsed the comments made by the Corporate Plan Working Group (a copy of which is also appended in the Minute Book) the Panel’s attention was drawn to two areas in which the Council had not achieved its targets. With regard to the objective to promote energy efficiency to householders through the Warmer Homes for Life Scheme, Members concurred with the Working Group’s recommendation that further means should be taken to promote the scheme. It was suggested that the high levels of performance to date indicated that delays in excess of the target were not significant and that the performance reflected seasonal trends. Furthermore, it was noted that the allocation of additional resources in order to achieve the target was demonstrative of the fact that the performance management process was operating as intended.

In terms of the key measure relating to the percentage of affordable housing (commitments) on qualifying sites, the Panel were advised that the target was likely to be amended to 35% to reflect the target in the Regional Spatial Strategy. Having expressed satisfaction with the levels of performance achieved in the year to date, the Panel

RESOLVED

(a)  that the report be endorsed for submission to the Cabinet; and

(b)  that the Cabinet be formally notified of the Panel’s views on the contents of the report by the Head of Policy and Strategic Services.