Agenda item

To consider the Quarter 1 2023/24 Corporate Performance report.

The Executive considered a report in respect of Corporate Performance for Quarter 1 (April – June 2023) of 2023/24.

In reply to Members’ questions, officers replied as follows:

·         there had been positive outcomes with recent recruitment processes in some service areas, including the appointments of a new Assistant Director for Housing Compliance, Repairs and Building Safety and a new Head of Building Safety.  The Housing Repairs Service still had recruitment challenges, both to management roles and specialist tradespeople.  Strategic Directors were soon to meet with Assistant Directors to monitor the use of agency/temporary staff, although it was acknowledged that the current employment market was very competitive; and

·         the Cartref site referred to in Appendix A to the report had been used temporarily as a depot/storage area in connection with the Major Repairs Contract and was owned by the Council.  Should a scheme be developed, a planning application would be submitted and consulted upon in the usual manner.

The Leader drew attention to the Council’s green credentials by referring to the recent fitting of solar panels on to seven of the Council’s refuse lorries.  As well as savings on fuel, the vehicles would save a considerable amount of Carbon Dioxide emissions in the coming years.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Housing Development welcomed the progress toward the completion of Helston House, with 29 new homes being delivered, and was appreciative of the community open day that took place in September.  The Portfolio Holder confirmed that it was anticipated that the first occupants of the new eco-friendly Helston House development would be moving in during October 2023.

It was RESOLVED:

1.          That the service performance against 35 corporate performance measures and delivery of key milestones in Quarter 1 2023/24 through the Future Town Future Council Programme (Appendix A to the report) be noted.

2.          That the Council’s performance as demonstrated through the 13 Community Measures (Appendix B to the report) be noted.

3.          That the performance challenges in relation to homelessness preventions, number of homes provided, and voids (Section 4.2 of the report) be noted, and the planned measures to improve performance be endorsed.

4.          That the strategic risk updates (Section 6 of the report) be noted.

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

The Executive considered a report in respect of Corporate Performance for Quarter 1 (April – June 2023) of 2023/24.

The Leader of the Council advised that this was the first quarter of reporting in 2023/24, and therefore also the first time that Members would be considering the new Corporate Performance Suite as agreed by the Executive in July 2023.

The Leader of the Council explained that the performance suite for 2023/24 had been refined so that it focused not only on new regulatory requirements and the Council’s significant investment in social housing, but also those areas which residents had told the Council mattered to them the most, namely the environment and climate change; anti-social behaviour; provision and maintenance of homes; and delivery of good local services.  He added that these measures had been classified as ‘Community Measures’, and that there were 13 (out of 35) indicators which would be regularly highlighted and communicated to residents throughout the year.

The Leader of the Council commented that, to help clarify and provide context to performance, the FTFC milestones and strategic measures had (for the first time) been brought together to provide a complete picture of progress against the 5 current strategic priorities of the FTFC programme.

The Leader of the Council stated that, where there was a need to improve performance, the report explained the challenges faced and mitigations being applied.  These areas would require specific attention and active management by officers going forward.  This was reflected in the report recommendations, which were being closely monitored by Senior Management and the relevant Portfolio Holders.

The Deputy Chief Executive gave a presentation concerning the Quarter 1 2023/24 report, and commented that of the 35 Corporate Performance Indicators, 2 were at Amber status, 3 were at Red, and a number of new measures were being baselined during 2023/24.  He outlined the action taken to address the 3 Red Indicators, namely Homelessness Preventions; Number of affordable homes delivered; and Number of Voids returned by contractor.

The Deputy Chief Executive then summarised the Future Town Future Council (FTFC) performance highlights throughout the Quarter, under the headings of Transforming Our Town; More Social and Affordable Housing; Co-operative Neighbourhoods; Making Your Money Count; and a Clean, Green, Safe and Thriving Town.

The Deputy Chief Executive concluded by referring to some of the community measures for Quarter 1, which included an 18.6% decrease in anti-social behaviour cases and a small decrease in the number of fly-tipping cases compared to the same period last year.  Furthermore, 55% of the Council’s Housing Stock had an EPC rating of C or above, 82.44% of Council homes met the national Decent Homes standard, and the Council had provided 339 new homes since 2014 (with a target of reaching 394 for Quarter 2).

In respect of the good local services community measure, the Deputy Chief Executive reported that there had been over 22,000 visits from children to the Council’s Everyone Active-managed leisure facilities; 85.5% of complaints were responded to within deadline; 88% of respondents were satisfied with the Customer Services Centre; and 99.45% of residential bins had been collected.

The Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Equalities stated that she was pleased with the reduction in anti-social behaviour.  She thanked and commended SBC officers and the Police for their excellent partnership working in this area.

In reply to Members’ questions, officers replied as follows:

·         there had been positive outcomes with recent recruitment processes in some service areas, including the appointments of a new Assistant Director for Housing Compliance, Repairs and Building Safety and a new Head of Building Safety.  The Housing Repairs Service still had recruitment challenges, both to management roles and specialist tradespeople.  Strategic Directors were soon to meet with Assistant Directors to monitor the use of agency/temporary staff, although it was acknowledged that the current employment market was very competitive; and

·         the Cartref site referred to in Appendix A to the report had been used temporarily as a depot/storage area in connection with the Major Repairs Contract and was owned by the Council.  Should a scheme be developed, a planning application would be submitted and consulted upon in the usual manner.

The Leader drew attention to the Council’s green credentials by referring to the recent fitting of solar panels on to seven of the Council’s refuse lorries.  As well as savings on fuel, the vehicles would save a considerable amount of Carbon Dioxide emissions in the coming years.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Housing Development welcomed the progress toward the completion of Helston House, with 29 new homes being delivered, and was appreciative of the community open day that took place in September.  The Portfolio Holder confirmed that it was anticipated that the first occupants of the new eco-friendly Helston House development would be moving in during October 2023.

It was RESOLVED:

1.          That the service performance against 35 corporate performance measures and delivery of key milestones in Quarter 1 2023/24 through the Future Town Future Council Programme (Appendix A to the report) be noted.

2.          That the Council’s performance as demonstrated through the 13 Community Measures (Appendix B to the report) be noted.

3.          That the performance challenges in relation to homelessness preventions, number of homes provided, and voids (Section 4.2 of the report) be noted, and the planned measures to improve performance be endorsed.

4.          That the strategic risk updates (Section 6 of the report) be noted.

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.