Agenda item

Report of the Interim Corporate Improvement Manager attached.

The Committee considered the report of the Interim Corporate Improvement Manager which provided an overview of performance against the Council’s Corporate Plan 2017/18 at the end of the half year point of 30 September 2017 and details of the corporate risks and controls in place to mitigate risks in the Corporate Risk Register.

The report set out the details of the 34 performance indicators and 27 corporate plan activities and a commentary on the performance made against each indicator and activity.

During the discussion, the Committee’s comments/enquiries included the following areas:

·         the new approach/style of the report and that the language/terminology used be appropriate for intended audience/readers

·         performance indicators and targets - questions around how they were chosen, measurable, stretching enough and possible new ones

·         complaints to the Local Government Ombudsman - had seen a national increase and the Council had learned lessons from the cases

·         time taken to answer phone calls in Gateway – longer time/more explanation being given to callers to inform and reduce need to call again  

·         property and investment performance – it was acknowledged that it was disappointing and had not achieved the forecasted level of return on investment and confirmation of occupancy information at the Momentum Business Park.  An assurance was sought of skills/capacity/expertise of staff and, the report of Cushman and Wakefield used as part of proposed property investment strategy going forward and options being looked at were requested

·         resident ‘participation’ in the neighbourhood plans/projects – this had never been measured just by attendance at meetings alone and as social media was a major one of the measures clarification be provided on this

·         risk strategy, risk management and risk register – clarity was sought on how it worked, compiled, ratings calculated (likeliness/impact), and appropriate language for intended audience

·         proposed frequency of staff feedback temperature checks was questioned in view of the results of the recent staff survey and if other methods were in hand information be provided 

RESOLVED:

(1)  That subject to the comments in resolution (2) below the

(a)  performance at the end of Quarter 2, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report be noted;

(b)  corporate risks and controls in place to mitigate risks identified in the Corporate Risk Register, as set out in Appendix 2 of the report be noted; and

(c)  arrangements in place to report performance to the Cabinet, Scrutiny Committee and Council as detailed in paragraph 4 of the report be noted.

(2)  That the Committee expresses the following comments, that

(a)  the new approach be welcomed but with emphasis on the use of plain English terminology;

(b)  the Committee looked forward to more rigorous and ambitious performance indicators/targets being introduced and being part of that process;

(c)  the report by Cushman and Wakefield be provided to the Committee with an explanation of how it influenced the Council’s current thinking on assets and investment;

(d)  updated occupancy information be provided to the Committee regarding units at Momentum Business Park;

(e)  better clarification be provided on the term residents ‘participating’ in the Council’s neighbourhood plan/projects;

(f)   a Member Learning Hour be held to give members a better understanding of the Council’s Risk Strategy, Risk Management and Risk Register; and

(g)   more thought be given to the frequency of temperature checks relating to staff feedback and information be provided on any other methods being used to measure feedback.