Issue - meetings

To receive a report presenting details of the delivery of the Corporate Plan 2022/23 and project delivery.

Executive Councillor: S Ferguson.

The Cabinet has considered and commented on progress made against the Key Actions and Corporate Indicators in the Corporate Plan and current projects, as summarised in Appendix A and detailed in Appendices B and C.

With the aid of a report prepared by the Business Intelligence & Performance Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet considered progress made against the Key Actions and Corporate Indicators listed in the Council’s Corporate Plan 2022/23 for the period 1 April to 30 June 2022. The report also incorporated progress on the current projects being undertaken by the Council.

The Executive Councillor for Customer Services summarised the progress made in delivering the Key Actions for 2022/23 over the reporting period where the Cabinet were pleased to note that with the exception of one, all were on track. In respect of Corporate Indicators, 100% of these were either on track or within acceptable variance. In terms of the latter, it was hoped that of the 9 reported, 5 of these would be on track by the end of the reporting year and an explanation was delivered on the 4 that were likely to remain amber (but within acceptable variance).

Corporate projects had progressed well with only one identified as being significantly behind schedule. This project related to the Revenue and Benefits Services’ e-Billing project. In his concluding remarks, the Executive Councillor for Customer Services stated that he was mindful of the impact of the winter and recent government announcements concerning the cost of living and energy crisis which was likely to impact upon performance levels in the future.

The Cabinet discussed the extensive work undertaken by the Council under the Homes for Ukraine scheme and the future plans for it now the initial six month period had come to an end. Assurances were delivered that the Council would continue to support guests and hosts in their journey towards guests living and working independently. The Executive Leader also commented that there was active dialogue with Ministers about the scheme. Cabinet Members also acknowledged that the support provided by Huntingdonshire exceeded that provided by other local authorities nationally and commended services across the organisation for the extraordinary levels of support given.

In receiving the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth), it was

RESOLVED

that Cabinet note the progress made against the Key Actions and Corporate Indicators in the Corporate Plan and current projects, as summarised in Appendix A and detailed in Appendices B and C of the report now submitted.

The Panel is invited to comment on the Corporate Performance Report 2022/23 Quarter 1.

By means of a report by the Business Intelligence and Performance Manager (a copy of was is appended in the Minute Book) the Corporate Performance Report 2022/23 Quarter 1 was presented to the Panel.

Following a question from Councillor Howell on what benefits groups could expect by achieving the ‘Good to Go’ status, the Panel heard that the team would investigate the details of this and communicate back to the Panel.

The Panel heard, following a question from Councillor Martin, that the new administration would like to set more challenging targets for performance and that the existing targets would be amended as the year progresses.

In response to a question from Councillor Pickering, the Panel heard that whilst many targets could be impacted by the current economic climate, the Council is committed to supporting its residents and helping to manage the impact of national and international events.

Having welcomed the report, it was thereupon

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet be recommended to endorse the recommendations within the report.