Agenda item

The Integrated Performance Management 2015/16 Quarter 3 report is to be presented to the Panel.

With the aid of a report by the Corporate Team Manager and the Head of Resources (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Integrated Performance Management 2015/16 Quarter 3 report was presented to the Panel. By way of introduction the Panel was advised that Appendix A and Appendix B of the report related to the Key Actions and Corporate Indicators for 2015/16, Appendix C was the Project Management report and Appendix D was the Financial Performance Monitoring.

A query was raised on the key action of the effectiveness of the fast track pre-application advice as to why the department had not received any enquiries and could the service be marketed better. In response Members were told that the service is being marketed however, despite being aware, developers and applicants are not taking up the service.

Following a question on the key action of the Council’s ability to influence the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Members were informed that the LEP has evolved since its creation however the LEP remains business led meaning that it has a different culture to Local Government and as a result this means understanding each other more difficult.

In response to a Member raising a perceived problem with Building Control Shared Service and lack of cooperation with Development the Panel was informed that the two departments now sit within the same office which has created a greater cooperation and understanding. In addition Members were reminded that as Building Control only entered the shared service four months earlier (October 2015) it was deemed too early to analyse the benefits or problems with the shared service.

When reviewing the Corporate Performance Indicators a Member raised a concern that the target for Business Rates collected had been missed. The Panel was informed that the reason for this was that there is a hold up due to monthly enforcement and liability order hearings as well as avoidance tactics. In response to the suggestion should the target be revisited Members were advised that the target was set for the year however the department was confident of reaching the target by the end of quarter four.

A question was raised by a Member as to what actions were being taken in regards to sickness. In response the Panel was informed that measures have been put in place and this is a top priority for Senior Management Team to resolve.

Following a query regarding why the target for the percentage of rent arrears was missed Members were told that the Council are handling the bad debts and the target will be met by the end of quarter four.

The Panel was advised that although currently the Council are missing the target for percentage of green bin debt outstanding after three months there is confidence that the target would be met at year end.

In response to a concern that the progress for the implement action plan to adopt the Local Plan to 2036 was taking longer than anticipated the Panel was informed that the Council currently have a Local Plan up to 2026 however the new Local Plan is expected in early 2017. The progress is being held up as the Council are currently awaiting the County Council to produce the sub regional transport model.

The Corporate Performance Indicators of developing a market town centre strategy for St Neots, update the ‘Buildings at Risk’ register and the completion of the updated Design Guide are all red. Although the Panel recognised that individually it wasn’t an issue but when considering the indicators as a collective there was concern.

In response to Members’ concerns the Panel was informed that for the development of the St Neots market town centre improvement strategy it requires all authorities to work together as well as political will. Members were advised that an updated ‘Buildings at Risk’ register is a would like to have as opposed to a need to have. With regards to the completion of an updated Design Guide the issue is a lack of resources. In addition it was decided that the Design Guide is not currently a priority.

Concerns were raised with regards to the number of affordable homes delivered as a Member thought that the performance was not up to standard despite receiving a green performance indicator. In response the Panel was advised that the affordable homes indicator is worked out as an average over the local plan period.

Members were informed that the performance indicator analysing current partnership commitments was red however once more analysing had taken place the indicator will turn green by the end of quarter four.

In reviewing Project Performance the Chairman reminded Members that the subject will be covered in greater detail at the next meeting of the Panel in March. Members did ask if the values of the projects could be included within the performance report. The Panel,

RESOLVED

to recommend that Cabinet retrospectively approve the establishment of the Budget Surplus Earmarked Reserve.