Agenda item

The Integrated Performance Report 2016/17 – Quarter 2 is to be presented to the Panel.

With the aid of a report by the Head of Resources and the Corporate Team Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Integrated Performance Report 2016/17 Quarter 2 was presented to the Panel.

In response to a question regarding how does the Council want to be judged on homelessness, Members were informed that there are a number of targets that the Council are measured on in respect to homelessness with the emphasis on how effective the Council are in addressing the issue. The example given was that last year the Council achieved 250 aversions of homelessness.

The Panel were informed that in response to the time taken to complete minor Disabled Facilities Grants jobs a report by the Home Improvement Agency will be submitted to a future meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Communities and Environment) once the actions have been reviewed by the Executive Councillor for Planning Policy, Housing and Infrastructure and the Head of Development.

Following a question regarding the overspend in ICT, Members were informed that a review of the benefits of the ICT shared service had been undertaken as well as an impact assessment of service mergers. It is unknown whether the increase in cost is temporary or permanent however the review will be able to establish that.

The Panel was informed that the reduction of the Impressions direct debit line is due to a decrease in membership. The membership fee has been unbundled and a number of Impressions customers have moved to other packages. In addition the budget has been affected as a result of an increase in maintenance costs. The Maintenance supplied by the third party contractor was poor and as such the Council has now entered into a contract with another party.

Members were informed that One Leisure has experienced competition from other competitors who have offered introductory membership fees and as a result Membership at One Leisure has reduced. Members noted that some competitors open longer hours than One Leisure and could be attracting customers who work shifts.

In response to a question regarding placing of Mobile Homes at Alconbury and Wyton to help assist the homelessness problem, the Panel was informed that the Council are reviewing all options in finding suitable housing solutions for homeless people.

A concern was raised that housing developers are not fully developing sites in order to avoid building affordable housing, in response the Executive Councillor for Planning Policy, Housing and Infrastructure stated that the Council are reviewing the situation and a policy is in development.

Following a question on how closely does the Council work with the County Council in respect to housing unaccompanied children, the Panel were informed that this area is a County Council function however the Council does have dialogue with the County Council on where the unaccompanied children can be located.

In response to a question in regards to Key Action 11 on when and what Council owned assets are transferred to the community, the Panel were informed that the Council are constantly looking at opportunities to transfer assets.

A Member asked, in relation to Key Action 34, has consideration been given to raising Council Tax, the Panel were informed that a preliminary budget will be done by December, no decision has been made however it has been considered.

In response to a query on Key Action 35, the Panel were informed that there will be no Zero Based Budgeting exercise this year as the focus has been on the transformation programme. There will however be a line by line assessment of budgets this year.

The Panel queried the time taken to process changes of circumstances for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support (Performance Indicator 31), however were told that due to operational issues the amount of time taken to process changes of circumstances would mean that it could not be done any quicker.

A discussion ensued regarding Performance Indicator 37 and it was explained that the total number of sickness days lost as indicated by the report is a rolling total.

Following a question is the red status on Performance Indicator 43 a concern, it was explained that the recording of complaints is a new indicator, however the recording of complaints is better than what was done previously.

When discussing the Project Performance, Members were informed that the lease for One Leisure St Neots has been extended which means that the Sport England investment on the 3G sports pitch can now proceed.

Members were informed that the Re:Fit programme has been reduced to take into account the work at the Leisure Centres that do not have long left on their leases. The work is due to commence in November 2016.

The Panel were informed that regarding the iMet project, the Council are not the lead partner, therefore if the project is delayed then there is not anything the Council can do. The project was run by the Huntingdonshire Regional College however since the college has merged it is now run by the Cambridge Regional College. The project is scheduled to be complete for the beginning of the 2017/18 academic year.

It was explained to Members that the Building Access Control is a project that should have been carried out at the beginning of the shared services contract as it allows all employees working for Huntingdonshire District Council to access the building.

A Member noted that they thought it was a bit ambitious to complete the One Leisure Huntingdon Changing Facilities project by 31st March 2017 if an architect has only just been appointed. The Panel were informed that due to the limited time left on the lease the Council are unwilling to invest in a site which it won’t potentially see the benefit of. It was confirmed that the project won’t be complete by 31st March 2017.

The Panel was informed by the Head of Resources that the Council is in a good revenue position. In addition the income is improved by the £1m expected, due to the additional business rates from the renewable energy schemes.

Members noted the Council has overspent on Document Centre by £30k but were assured that work is ongoing so that an accurate budget forecast can be made.

In response to a question on debt, Members were informed that the vast majority of the debt has been collected and that if the collection of debt is professional then the cost of collecting the debt is not excessive.

(At 8.29pm, during the consideration of this item, Councillors A Dickinson and D C Reynolds left the meeting and did not return.)

(At 8.32pm, during the consideration of this item, Councillors G J Bull and D M Tysoe left the meeting and did not return.)

(At 8.43pm, during the consideration of this item, Councillors D Brown and S Cawley left the meeting and did not return.)