The Panel are to receive the Corporate Plan 2018-2022 and the Integrated Performance Report 2018/19, Quarter 1.
Contact:A Dobbyne 388100 / D Buckridge 388065 / P Loveday 388615
Minutes:
With the aid of a report by the Corporate Team Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Corporate Plan 2018-2022 and the Integrated Performance Report 2018/19, Quarter 1 was presented to the Panel. Members were given background details on the development of the plan and the purpose of the plan.
A Member questioned whether the targets are challenging enough. It was explained that targets set are challenged by Officers and are informed by performance in previous years, national guidelines, statutory obligations and other benchmarking information, and also reflect resource availability, so generally would be more challenging compared to the previous year.
A specific point was raised regarding call centre satisfaction rates and it was explained that the target covers a range of criteria from resolution of the call to had it been passed on to the relevant team.
Where no target has been set, the Panel was informed that this is where the Senior Officers and relevant Portfolio Holder thought the measure would be most useful, however, as it had not been used in the previous year and had not been previously collected, no target was set yet, but this could be added during the year.
In regards to achieving Green Flag status for Paxton Pits, the comment was made that this was setting a target already achieved and that a more beneficial target would be maintaining the Green Flag status for Paxton Pits. The target also includes achieving Green Flag status for Hinchingbrooke Country Park and Riverside St Neots by 2020.
A Member commented that it could be more useful if the number of new affordable homes delivered was presented as a percentage of total homes delivered.
Some Members of the Panel commented that they would like the target for number of staff sickness days lost per full time employee to be lower than 9. It was explained to the Panel that the target is lower than last year’s target of 10 days which was only just met.
In regards to total amount of energy used in Council buildings, a Member commented whether it would be possible to include mileage of Council vehicles within that target.
Attention turned to the Integrated Performance Report 2018/19, Quarter 1. The Corporate Team Manager introduced the report and covered the performance section and the Finance Manager covered the finance section. Members were informed of the revenue and capital overspend and the reasons for it. The Panel was reassured that Officers would work towards reducing the underspend by the end of the financial year.
On grounds maintenance, discussion ensued on how to align the Council’s inspection standard with customer expectations as the latter is subjective. It was explained that customers tend to contact the Council when something is wrong and as grounds maintenance requests were down, this suggests that customers’ expectations are being met.
The Panel commented that if the public knew which Council is responsible for maintaining which bit of land this would decrease the number of calls to the Council’s Call Centre. It was explained that the relevant Portfolio Holder is currently working on a project in order to better manage such calls.
Members commented that they had concerns with the overspend in Operations and One Leisure however, it was explained that the relevant Portfolio Holders and Heads of Service would be in a better position to answer those concerns.
The Commercial Investment Strategy (CIS) was raised, by the Panel, as an area which could be susceptible to a decrease in income however, it was explained that the majority of units owned by the Council through the CIS are small to mid-ranged units on trading estates and retail parks and are more resilient than those units located on the High Street.
The Panel raised the issue of recycling contamination and urged that more is done on educating residents on what materials can go into the recycling bin.
(At 7.09pm, during the consideration of this item, Councillor L A Besley entered the meeting.)
(At 8.02pm, after the conclusion of this item, Councillor J A Gray left the meeting.)
Supporting documents: