-
Agenda item
Performance Monitoring Quarterly Report for 2019/20 - Quarter 2
- Meeting of Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Tuesday, 17th December, 2019 6.00 pm (Item 33.)
- View the background to item 33.
Minutes:
Councillors looked at the performance summary section of the report first and looked at the performance indicators. Councillors were keen to celebrate the successes of several areas and ask for clarity in others. These included;
· Street cleansing: this had recently been brought back in house for the Council to run. Councillors were pleased with the project management to set this up but also how successful it has been in improving the cleanliness of the town.
· Planning: the department has exceeded targets despite having staff shortages. Councillors recognised this had not been an easy task in these circumstances.
· Housing benefit: the days to process a new claim were met the indicator but some councillors would like to see this quicker as they feel this could impact tenant and landlords relationships
· Council tax and Business rates: Councillors asked that it looked like collection rates were at approximately 60%. The officers responded that this will increase as the year goes on (cumulative figure). The figure was lower due to no Recovery staff recruited. There are now agency staffs in place and improvements are expected.
· Long term empty properties & neglected and derelict building improvement: Councillors could not see the correlation between these two targets (number 11&12). Officers advised that the figures were currently incorrect. Staff shortages and new software systems contributed to this. The figures for Q3 will be better.
· Homelessness: Councillors congratulated the work by officers on helping homeless residents. Officers confirmed that the increase in homelessness cases has correlated with overspend on bed & breakfast accommodation. Councillors should except to see this decrease as there are fewer cases but also shortened stays. Currently there are large shortages of social housing that prevents people from moving from temporary accommodation.
In order to move people from temporary accommodation into private landlord run accommodation, it has to meet liveable standards. Housing stock has improved in the town’s private sector due to schemes such as selective licensing. Councillors raised that some of their ward residents were experiencing poor conditions from Housing Association properties. Officers raised that there are regular meetings with the Housing Associations and the performance indicators are regularly met by them. The Housing Associations have also made improvements at the Councils previous requests. Councillors believed that when residents ask for improvements or complain that this takes a very long time to resolve and residents have to live in poor conditions during this time. It was suggested given how important Housing was to Councillors that there was a meeting with relevant Councillors and Officers as well as representation from the local Housing Associations.
· Elections: Councillors recognised the effort that Officers put into the recent election especially given the 5 week turnaround. They wanted to thank all Officers for their contribution to this.
· Museums: Councillors were very pleased with the figures. The new manager was recognised for this and the secured funding for outreach work.
· White Rock theatre: Councillors would like more information on the outreach work. The performance had improved from last year.
· Freedom Leisure: Councillors expressed concern that the Summerfields swimming pool was a municipal one and that residents felt excluded when they are unable to access the facility when private parties are being held. Councillors recognised the need to raise income but were concerned by the effects of this. Officers advised Scrutiny could look at the terms of the agreements when the next opportunity arises. Councillors would like more information about the outreach work.
· Developing the town: Councillors had questions relating to the Tilekiln and the Pilot field planning agreements. They also would like more information about the Memorandum of Understanding with Rother district Council.
ACTIONS
· Housing Officers and representatives from local Housing Associations (Orbit and Optivo) to attend Overview and Scrutiny
· Information about the outreach work of the White Rock Theatre Contractor
· Information about the outreach work for Freedom Leisure
· Under ‘Developing the Town’ there was a line that read;
“Memorandum of Understanding with Rother District Council drafted pending final signature”
Councillors would like further information about this,
· Under ‘Developing the Town’ there was a line that read;
“Tilekiln & Pilot Field- Heads of terms agreement and outline planning work completed in line with agreed business plan”
Councillors would like an update on this.
RESOLVED that:
1. That the committees comments on 2019/20 performance be addressed by the relevant Lead Member(s) with appropriate action and report back
2. That staff be thanked for their hard work and achievements
Reasons for Recommendations
To assist the council to undertake performance management arrangements
Supporting documents:
-
My council
Contact
Got a question about democratic services?
Content
The content on this page is the responsibility of our Democratic Services team.