Issue - meetings

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive enclosed.

Decision made

1.That the report be noted.

2.The recommendations of the Scrutiny Budget and Performance Panel be accepted.

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member (Strategy and Reform) presented a report of the Deputy Chief Executive providing Cabinet with a position statement for the Corporate Strategy for quarter one (April – June) 2021/22.

The Cabinet considered the recommendations of the Scrutiny Budget and Performance Panel held on 13 September 2021 which were as follows:

The Panel:

1.     thanks the Leader and Chief Executive for attending and for their detailed report;

2.     welcomes the performance report and progress made in the first quarter of the year;

3.     is grateful for the commitment for the new single strategic partnership to be scrutinised in the future and potential for joint scrutiny;

4.     asks that the key performance indicator for fuel poverty be reviewed as part of the next refresh of the corporate strategy;

5.     looks forward to receiving further information on the number of young people engaged in the community conversations and the link being made with mental health;

6.     welcomes the offer of further examples of the outcome from the community hubs in future reports and the proposed evaluation;

7.     looks forward to future reports including information on credit union take-up rates; and

8.     is grateful for the offer of an update on the pre-planning advice services resuming and customer service response times.

Arising from members’ questions on this item concern was expressed about the cost of building affordable homes in the borough, particularly the McKenzie Arms project which may require redesign. The Leader of the Council stressed that the Council was committed to investment in building affordable homes particularly in terms of social value to the borough.

A question was asked by a member of the public relating to the tree planting figures and regarding the percentage of trees which had not survived. The Leader of the Council disputed the figures quoted, added that the trees are planted by Lancashire County Council and that South Ribble’s tree officers are aware that not all trees planted are expected to survive.

Decision made

1. That the report be noted.

2. The recommendations of the Scrutiny Budget and Performance Panel be accepted.

Reasons for recommendations

The Council’s performance framework sets out the process for reporting progress against the objectives of the Corporate Strategy. Robust monitoring ensures that the council continues to deliver its priorities and achieves the best outcomes for residents.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive attached.

The Panel considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive which outlined the Council’s performance against the delivery of the Corporate Strategy projects and objectives during Quarter 1 (April to June 2021).

Overall, performance of the projects was good with 11 of 14 projects on-track and 3 rated amber.  Of 24 key performance indicators (KPI’s), 3 were rated green, 2 rated red and 2 yet to be baselined and the Panel welcomed the progress made in the quarter.

The Panel put questions to the Leader, Chief Executive and Shared Services Lead for Transformations, including the anticipated outcomes of shared services in customer services and ICT across South Ribble and Chorley Councils.

In response to this, members were advised that sharing these services would result in the upskilling of staff; improving access to information; improved infrastructure such as internet connectivity; software improvements; and an upgrade of IT systems and infrastructure to aid in the delivery of the Joint Digital Strategy.

Members were also keen to learn whether the recent technical issues experienced with IT had been rectified, to which the issues were acknowledged and confirmation provided that these had not been fully resolved but that sufficient workarounds were in place.

The rationale for merging the South Ribble Partnership and the Chorley Public Service Reform Board was queried, with members asking about the consultation and decision-making of this.

It was stated that consultation had taken place with all partners and that there had been a consensus that a single strategic partnership for South Ribble and Chorley would be of greater benefit, particularly when engaging with partners on a bigger scale.

Members welcomed assurances that the single strategic partnership would remain being scrutinised in the future and that there would be potential for joint scrutiny with Chorley Council.

Slight concern was experienced that staff vacancies and skills gaps were causing delays in the delivery of the Joint Digital Strategy but assurances were provided that a recent restructure had filled most positions. It was also suggested that the project could get back on track by ‘buying in’ expertise.

The panel noted that the percentage of households living in fuel poverty in South Ribble was lower than the national average but requested that the key performance indicator be reviewed as part of the next refresh of the corporate strategy to be more challenging.

The work of the mental health support programme for young people alongside the Community Conversations was commended and the panel asked for further information on the number of young people engaging with the Community Conversations and the link being made between the events and mental health support.

In response to further discussion on mental health support, it was advised that some officers and members had commenced mental health first aid training and that it was hoped that this could be offered to more members and officers soon.

Members also queried if the success of the Community Hubs could be measured more robustly and were advised that an annual review would commence in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46