Agenda item

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive attached.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Foster) and the Director of Change and

Delivery presented a report which outlined the Council’s performance against the delivery of the Corporate Strategy projects and objectives during Quarter 2 of 2022/23 (1 July – 30 September 2022).

The report showed 80% of projects rated green or complete, highlights over the period included a higher employment rate compared across the region, positive improvements in time taken to process disabled facilities grants, strong collection rate for council tax and business rates, improvements in customer services and ICT, progressing of the workplace strategy, pilot co-operative schemes underway and the opening of Worden Hall.

In response to a question over the delivery of projects within the Community Hub action plans, the Panel heard while the Cabinet Member for Communities, Social Justice and Wealth Building monitored the action plans, the hubs were encouraged to be self-monitoring and independent as much as they possible. It was acknowledged that the report does not provide a full picture of the achievements of the community hubs and will be reviewed for future reports.

Questions were asked about the increased activity in promoting the visitor offer in South Ribble, how success would be measured and also when members would hear more on the tourism strategy. The tourism strategy was due to be announced in the coming months and the Panel welcomed the offer of evaluating the ‘Discover South Ribble’ initiative and the wider strategy in the future.

The Music in the Park and the Jubilee celebrations earlier in the year demonstrated the huge demand for such events, the Committee heard that it was hoped to do more in the future that would support local businesses and bring more people in to the borough. Progress on the Town Deal would also help with this effort.

On the number of savers registered with Unify Credit Union, it was acknowledged that the current financial climate was a challenging factor in this. More work, it was heard, was underway with community hubs, parish councils and other partners to identify suitable locations across the borough to hold outreach sessions for any residents who struggled to get into Leyland. On the recent disruption to the credit union premises, Members were informed that this was caused by a flooding issue with a neighbouring tenant and that steps to resolve the matter had been taken.

The Leyland Town Deal project was progressing following the successful funding bid. Approval for the next stages would be discussed at upcoming Cabinet and Council meetings. With regards to the City Deal, a briefing had been arranged for all members later that week to provide an update - changes in government funding, particularly around the new homes bonus had created a shortfall in the funding. Members welcomed the commitment to share all relevant information, including comments from partners at Lancashire County Council. Other projects such as Jubilee Gardens, Worden Hall and the McKenzie Arms were progressing or had been completed.

Members questioned why the delivery of affordable homes was not assessed as red given it was off track when compared to the original programmes. In response it was confirmed that as the programme was only slightly delayed and was still in budget it remained within the threshold of amber assessment. There was confidence that the mitigation action plan would bring the plans back on track.

On prevention of homelessness, members asked for clarity of the definition of this indicator, how it was measured and also the level of control the Council has over the indicator. It was agreed the full definition would be provided after the meeting but the focus was around providing alternative accommodation in a suitable timescale. In terms of control, much was determined by central government targets and support. Members heard that there was currently limited capacity for onward movement and a lack of affordable homes to meet demand, in addition others factors such as housing refugees had an impact. Members were told that this was a growing issue nationally with huge increases in demand. Working with the Chorley and South Ribble Partnership, the Council was committed to supporting anybody presenting as homeless but acknowledged that in the current financial climate, more support from central government was required.

Following a query about the performance indicator for percentage of calls answered within 90 seconds and whether demand could have been predicted, Members were told that the £150 council tax rebate announcement was unexpected and saw a huge increase in calls and other contacts. Whilst it was accepted that undertaking upgrades during the garden waste renewal period had caused issues, there had been much improvement in recent months with increased staffing, training and further upgrades to the ICT systems to resolve issues around call waiting times.

The Leader undertook to provide the percentage of residents who had received the £150 council tax rebate after the meeting.

The committee welcomed the offer to include more detailed information in future reports around actions and initiatives to improve call waiting times.

It was subsequently;

Resolved: (Unanimously)

That the Scrutiny Budget and Performance Panel:

1.    Thanks the Leader and Director for attending and answering questions.

2.    Asks that future reports include a more comprehensive list of community hub achievements and successes.

3.    Welcomes the offer of Scrutiny evaluating the Discover South Ribble Borough promotion initiative.

4.    Congratulates those involved in Music in the Park and Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

5.    Looks forward to receiving further information on the prevention of homelessness indicator definition and lobbying for additional government funding for this important issue.

6.    Welcomes the commitment to improving call waiting times as quickly as possible and that more detailed information be provided in future reports.