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Agenda and draft minutes
Venue: Birch Suite, 5th Floor, Aquila House, Breeds Place, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3UY
Contact: Michael Courts on 01424 451764 Email: mcourts@hastings.gov.uk
Items No. Item Prior to the start of the meeting, members stood and observed one minutes silence in memory of Councillor John Hodges.
Declarations of Interest
Minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2015 PDF 66 KB
Minutes:
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2015 be approved as a correct record
Quarter Three Performance and Financial Monitoring Report PDF 108 KB
Additional documents:
- Appendix a - Directors report , item 13. PDF 72 KB
- Appendix b - Performance template , item 13. PDF 123 KB
- Transformation Programme Update , item 13. PDF 161 KB
Minutes:
The Director of Corporate Services and Governance presented a report which advised members of performance against the 2015/16 targets and performance indicators in the corporate plan for quarter 3. The report also provided a summary of financial information.
The Director of Corporate Services and Governance commented that the Business Support team were heavily involved in supporting the ongoing refurbishment of Aquila House. The team were also involved in the roll out of new technology which would support changing working practices across the organisation.
The committee noted that works were underway to create a new civic suite on the upper ground floor of Aquila House. East Sussex County Council had also completed their refurbishment of the Town Hall to form the new Register Office. Members requested a tour of the new Register Office, when it was convenient for this to be arranged.
Members were mindful that the Community Contact Centre would receive a significant increase in the number of enquiries over the weeks to come, as a result of the new council tax billing period. Planning was underway to minimise the impact on the service and other customers during this extremely busy time.
The Director of Corporate Services and Governance explained that sickness absence was robustly managed across the organisation by the People, Customer and Business Support team, but with sensitivity for individual circumstances. Members noted that, as the organisation reduced in size, any period of sickness absence would have a more significant impact on the statistics. The committee highlighted that Councillor Sue Beaney had been appointed as the council’s Mental Health Champion, the Director of Corporate Services and Governance added that it was likely the Executive Manager of People, Customer and Business Support would be appointed as the lead officer for mental health.
Discussion took place regarding the recruitment and retention of staff, particularly given the national shortages of some professional services. The Director of Corporate Services and Governance highlighted that it was important to use recruitment resources imaginatively to attract high calibre staff. It was also important to offer development opportunities for existing staff. The process of mapping of council services had engaged staff in reviewing working practices, and in some cases this had identified resources which could be more effectively re-deployed elsewhere.
The Assistant Director for Financial Services and Revenues commented that the budget setting process had been particularly challenging this year, as there had been delays receiving the details of the council’s financial settlement from government. Members noted that the report to Budget Cabinet recommended a 2.08% increase in the borough council’s part of council tax, in order to achieve a balanced budget.
The Director of Corporate Services and Governance updated members on preparations for the Police and Crime Commissioner and Local Government Elections which would be held in May. The team were also carrying out initial preparations for a referendum of the UK’s membership of the European Union, although the date this would take place had not yet been confirmed.
Members were advised that the council ... view the full minutes text for item 13.
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