Issue - meetings

To brief Members on progress with the Corporate Plan actions/projects and the results and forecasts for operational performance measures as at the end of Quarter 2.

Executive Councillors: S Ferguson & L Davenport-Ray.

The Cabinet has considered and commented on progress and performance during Quarter 2, as summarised in the Corporate Performance Report attached and detailed in Appendices A and B of the report now submitted.

With the aid of a report prepared by the Assistant Director (Strategic Insights and Delivery) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet received an update on delivery of the Corporate Plan during Quarter 2 of the 2024/25 financial year.

In introducing the report, the Executive Councillor for Resident Services and Corporate Performance drew attention to a number of performance indicators which were showing as red or amber. These were as a result of cyclical variations such as the drop in One Leisure admissions which was expected to peak again in the New Year, the time taken to process Disabled Facilities Grants, Council Tax collection rates and the number of days taken to process new claims for Housing Benefit. In respect of the number of households in temporary accommodation, the Cabinet were pleased to note that whilst the figures had risen in Quarter 1 they had dropped back down again in Quarter 2. Members were however mindful that this performance measure was largely outside of the Council’s control. Mention was also made of the performance measures relating to the garden waste subscription service, composting levels, residual waste per household and missed bin collections. In terms of the latter, the Cabinet were reminded that recent flooding events had meant that a number of bins were not able to be collected.

The Executive Councillor for Parks and Countryside, Waste and Street Scene highlighted the benefits of the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) being located within Pathfinder House which enabled effective collaborative working with the Council’s Residents Advice Team. She then drew attention to the outreach sessions undertaken by the CAB every 4 weeks across the District. Having queried the “RAG” status of the action relating to future demand for Further Education provision in the St Neots area and development of the Local Skills Implementation Plan, the Chief Executive reported that a representative of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority would be delivering a presentation on skills at a forthcoming Informal Cabinet meeting. Additionally, the Executive Councillor for Resident Services and Corporate Performance undertook to review the matter outside of the meeting.

Having received and noted the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance & Growth) and in thanking Officers for their hard work and efforts in producing the report, it was

RESOLVED

  that the Cabinet note the progress and performance made during Quarter 2, as summarised in the Corporate Performance Report attached and detailed in Appendices A and B of the report now submitted.

The Panel is invited to comment on the Corporate Performance 2024/25 Quarter 2 Report.  

Executive Councillors: S Ferguson & L Davenport-Ray

By means of a report by the Assistant Director (Strategic Insights and Delivery) (a copy of which was appended in the Minute Book), the Corporate Performance 2024/25 Quarter 2 Report was presented to the Panel.

Concern was expressed about the achievability of PI21, following which the Panel were assured that the Operations team were confident that this target could be met and strict targets had been put in place to assist this. It was further confirmed that the missed bins were a mixture of the three bin types and that there wasn’t a pattern to the issue.

In relation to PI24, the Panel heard, that two fly tipping prosecution cases were adjourned and that the reasons for this would be investigated and reported back to the Panel. In addition, the Panel heard that the long term sickness figures shown in the report were not unrealistic for a large organisation with a diverse range of services and a workforce with multiple needs. The Panel were further assured that a robust sickness procedure was in place to manage this and could culminate in dismissal as a final stage. It was observed that commentary within the report to highlight the number of serious long term illness cases would be useful to allow the Panel to understand the picture of those cases which were of concern and those which could be approached with empathy.

It was observed that there were discrepancies on the totals within the graph in PI19, the Panel heard that clarification would be sought and brought back to the Panel.

Concern was expressed that the Electrical Vehicle Charging project was not being implemented as quickly as had been originally communicated to residents. The Panel were assured that work was underway and detail about timescales would be sought and communicated back to the Panel.

It was clarified to the Panel that point 31 on page 47 of the agenda related to all work within the Market Towns Programme, it was also noted that an update on the Market Towns Programme was expected at the December meeting of the Panel. The Panel were advised that details on the removal of trees alongside the Riverside Park cycleways, noted in item 57, would be sought and brought back to the Panel.

Following the discussion, it was

RESOLVED

that the comments of the Panel would be added to the Council report to allow for visibility during their consideration of the report.

19:07 Councillors B Chapman and D Terry entered the meeting.