Issue - meetings

Report of the Chief Executive attached.

RESOLVED (Unanimously):

1.    Cabinet note that the performance summary outlined within the report reflects progress made under the previous administration and their agreed Corporate Plan deliverables for 2018/19.

2.    Cabinet also note the report for information and advise that the current Corporate Plan will be reviewed in the coming months.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Foster, presented a report of the Chief Executive that provided a summary of the Council’s performance throughout 2018/19, against the agreed programmes, projects and measures within the Corporate Plan.

The Leader explained that the new Cabinet would be looking to refresh the Corporate Plan in line with their vision and ambitions for the Council and that existing performance measures would also be reviewed in line with the new Plan.

The report highlighted a number of successes that included a Digital Strategy Review, the implementation of the Living Wage Reform and development of a homelessness project to implement the new Homeless Reduction Act 2017.

However, although reported as an achievement to note, the delivery of 491 new homes in 2018/19 with 97 of these being affordable, the authority was still underperforming by 10% against what was considered a low target by the new Cabinet and the Leader reported that efforts would be made to improve on this.

In response to a member of the public about benchmarking against our neighbouring authorities, the Director of Planning and Property explained that South Ribble works with Chorley and Preston Council to develop a joint strategic planning strategy for Central Lancashire.

Although there were three projects that were currently off-track, it was noted that the Council played more of an influencing and supportive role and did not have the authority to deliver these projects without decisions by key partners. These included, securing funding for the Ribble Crossing, the progressing of the Cuerden Strategic site and Shared Services arrangements with Chorley Council. Members from across the Council recognised the importance of keeping pressure on partners in their deliverability and inclusion in the Corporate Plan. Although the Leader reported that following a recent meeting with Chorley, Shared Services was now progressing at pace.

The Deputy Leader, Councillor Mick Titherington, praised the Councils Benefits Team for maintaining their high level of performance in processing new Housing Benefits claims, two days below the national average, despite the impact that Universal Credit had placed on their volume of work and complexity of new claims.

It was proposed by Councillor Paul Foster, seconded by Councillor Mick Titherington and

Decision made (Unanimously):

1.    Cabinet note that the performance summary outlined within the report reflects progress made under the previous administration and their agreed Corporate Plan deliverables for 2018/19.

2.    Cabinet also note the report for information and advise that the current Corporate Plan will be reviewed in the coming months.

Reason(s) for the decision:

Although the Corporate Plan was approved at Council on 28 February 2018, there has been a recent change of administration and the new Cabinet wishes to review the Plan in line with their aims and objectives.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.