Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships containing details of the Council’s performance against its priority objectives.

Noted the Council's performance against the targets within the Corporate Plan including data and narrative on the achievements against targets for each of the Council's priority objectives.

The Cabinet received and noted a report by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which reviewed the Council's performance against the targets within the Corporate Plan.  The report which included data and narrative on the achievements against targets for each of the Council's priority objectives had been considered also by the Overview and Scrutiny Panels whose comments were relayed to the Cabinet.

To consider a report by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships containing details of the Council’s performance against its priority objectives.

The Panel considered a report by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) containing details of the Council’s performance against the priority objectives in the Panel’s remit in the quarter to 31^st December 2011. In so doing, attention was drawn to the matters raised on the report at a meeting of the Corporate Plan Working Group.

Having noted that the Council’s performance against some of the targets was amber, a Member expressed the view that this was to be expected as the financial constraints on the Council took effect. Moreover, it was not necessarily desirable continually to exceed targets by a significant margin as this could indicate that too much resource had been dedicated to their achievement.

In considering the target which related to Council employee attendance rates, the Panel were advised that the average sickness levels of 6.6 days in a 12 month period compared favourably with the situation nationally in the public sector (9.6 days) and the private sector (6.7 days). However, in order fully to understand the underlying trends, Members requested that consideration was given to including further figures at various percentiles in future reports. Comment was also made that monitoring should be undertaken on the impact of the ongoing process to reduce employee numbers on those employees that remained.

With regard to Leisure Centres income and expenditure, attention was drawn to inconsistencies between the figures now presented and those which had recently been reported at a meeting of the Leisure Centres Working Group and further clarification in this respect was requested. In more general terms, it was suggested that the Council should adopt a more rigorous approach to the identification and management of risks that might affect the Council’s ability to achieve its priorities.

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet be invited to consider the Panel’s comments as part of its deliberations on the report by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships on Performance Management.

To consider a report by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships containing details of the Council’s performance against its priority objectives.

The Panel considered a report by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the performance of the authority against the priority objectives for environmental well-being identified in ‘Growing Success’ the Council's corporate plan.  Members’ attention was drawn to the fact that all objectives had been achieved or exceeded and the Huntingdon West Area Action Plan had been found to be sound by the Planning Inspector.

After querying the plans for the low carbon agenda, particularly in respect of leisure centres, Members were advised that progress would be subject to available funding for energy saving measures that delivered long term savings.  However the Environmental Management Division had been working with One Leisure and a suite of proposals concerning energy saving measures at the leisure centres would be available in due course.

To consider a report by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships containing details of the Council’s performance against its priority objectives.

20 Minutes.

The Panel considered a report by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) containing details of the Council’s performance against its priority objectives in the quarter to 31^st December 2010. Members endorsed for submission to the Cabinet the comments of the Corporate Plan Working Group, particularly with regard to the objectives where targets had not been achieved. Having noted reasons why performance against the target relating to affordable housing (commitments) on qualifying sites was “red”, Members queried whether the target figure of 40% was too high given the patterns employed by builders when developing sites.

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet be invited to consider the Panel’s comments as part of its deliberations on the report by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships.