-
Agenda item
Performance Monitoring Quarterly Report for 2019/20 - Quarter 3
- Meeting of Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Thursday, 5th March, 2020 6.00 pm (Item 45.)
- View the background to item 45.
Minutes:
Councillors spoke of how the committee would like to do some more overview work and how reforms to the performance management could help enhance this. There was support for stream lining but acknowledged that this would need to be explored.
The committee would look more at exceptions reporting and looking at the variants for this. There is current work going on to find key performance indicators for this and for live tracking. This would enable Overview and Scrutiny to prepare more in advance. This would be on the website which would also make it more accessible.
Councillors were cautious as there is a value to performance indicators. Using a minimal number of indicators doesn’t necessary give a clear picture of the situation, sometimes multiple indicators are needed.
Councillors asked about the organisational blueprint that had been part of this year’s corporate plan. Within the corporate plan it advised that councillors would be involved in its development in quarter 2. This did happen but with cabinet members only.
Councillors felt that the Cabinet system of governance had pushed backbenchers to the sides. They felt that Overview & Scrutiny and Cabinet working together would utilise more skills. The hope was to have more productive outcomes for residents which would in turn inspire them to have more trust in their council. Councillor Forward offered to have a monthly meeting with Overview and Scrutiny for an ongoing conversation to help with this.
The committee asked for an update about the council’s work concerning climate change. Councillor Fitzgerald reported that our recycling rates are very good, but the processing infrastructure is very poor. A lot of the processing infrastructure for plastics is in other countries which has environmental costs associated with the transportation of materials. There is a need for processing and recycling to work together in order to help the environment.
Councillor Evans updated the committee about her climate change portfolio work. Two new officer posts have been created to help with the work needed to help make Hastings carbon neutral, although the Chair noted that it would require all councillors and officers contributing to this agenda where they can. A Climate change strategy was being drafted. They are currently explored solar panels and looking for suitable roofs in Hastings for there installation. An agency is currently looking at our carbon emissions and ways of reducing these. Lots of local community groups want to engage and they are looing to do more community consultation. Councillor Evans has also been going into schools to talk to pupils about climate change. There had previous been a forum that engaged with local groups on this issue and it was suggested that this happen again.
ACTION
· After the publication of the climate change strategy a climate change forum should be convened to gather local views.
RESOLVED (Unanimously) that:
1. That the committee’s 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.