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Agenda item
Corporate Plan Part III - Year End Performance Information and Target Setting 2016/17
- Meeting of Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Tuesday, 14th June, 2016 6.00 pm (Item 3.)
- View the declarations of interest for item 3.
Minutes:
The Director of Corporate Services and Governance presented a report which advised members of the year-end actual performance against key activities set out in the corporate plan for 2015/16. The report also considered areas of shortfall in performance and actions that would be taken to improve performance in 2016/17.
The Director of Corporate Services updated members on achievements within her directorate during the last quarter and performance over the whole year. She commented that all staff had coped well during the refurbishment of Aquila House, which had created significant disruption throughout the past year, and continued to deliver an ambitious programme of activities. The council has also delivered a range of projects as part of its ongoing organisational transformation programme.
The briefing also highlighted key areas of work outside the targets set out in the corporate plan, including the transfer of civic functions from the Town Hall to Aquila House and the lease of space at the Town Hall to East Sussex County Council for use as a Register Office.
The Electoral Services team were also undertaking additional tasks in preparation for the Referendum in June 2016, alongside assisting with the Boundary Review.
Members acknowledged ongoing uncertainty regarding the implementation of Universal Credit and would continue to monitor this throughout the year ahead.
The Director of Operational Services briefed members on performance across his Directorate. He advised that the Planning Services Manager would update members on her review of the services. Members were mindful that the review had taken place in the context of a challenging budget setting process facing the council as well as changes to the government assessment process for planning matters.
The Director of Operational Services commented that performance of the waste and street cleansing contract remained broadly in line with the council’s performance indicators, however, the council continued to work closely with the contactor to address areas for improvement. He noted that a number of the challenges experienced in Hastings had been shared by other authorities within the partnership.
The briefing also highlighted a number of significant achievements over the past year. In particular the work between the council, East Sussex County Council and the Source to secure the refurbishment of the former White Rock Baths as a BMX and skate park. Members noted a number of significant improvements to the White Rock area, with the completion of the restoration of Hastings Pier and the refurbishment of Bottle Alley.
The Director of Operational services also highlighted a successful example of partnership working between a range of agencies to ensure the bathing water at Hastings beach met the new EU standard. This approach had secured significant investment from Southern Water to improve the sewerage infrastructure within the town and a new filtration system had been implemented in Alexandra Park. A successful community engagement campaign, Clean Seas Please, had also been undertaken by the local voluntary sector.
Members requested a site visit to the council’s new CCTV control room. The Director of Operational Services commented that investment in the new equipment by the council had significantly improved the effectiveness of the CCTV coverage. He added that this resource was important to support the continued regeneration of the town and attract investment to the area, particularly as plans were developed for a new high education offer.
The Director of Operational Services updated members on the Social Lettings Agency. Interest in the agency continued to grow, with 29 properties now included in the scheme, which was near the break-even point. Members had recently received a briefing on trends within the local housing market, and the potential impact this could have on the council’s commitments to address homelessness. Members requested that the committee requested that they continue to be kept updated as to the number of homelessness applications and acceptances received each quarter. Consideration was given to the impact of a new government pilot of changes to social housing; members were due to receive a briefing from AmicusHorizon on changes to their rent policy.
The committee discussed the implementation of the Firmstep for online enquiries to the council. The Director of Corporate Services and Governance advised that the new system would enable the council to gather further information about the enquiries it receives, which could help support further service improvements.
Member’s views were sought on the proposed performance indicator targets for 2016/17.
The committee welcomed the proposed new performance indicator targets to measure the effectiveness of the council’s website. The new targets reflected the council’s channel shift intentions and included the percentage of customers registered for a self-service account and monitoring the increase in the number of customers self-serving online.
Members supported proposals to reduce the target for the percentage of statutory noise nuisance and public health complaints responded to within 5 working days from 95% in 2015.16 to 90% in 2016/17. This is because of an anticipated significant increase in the number of scheduled food safety inspections, which will impact on capacity within the environmental health team.
Discussion took place regarding potential options to increase attendance at the White Rock Theatre. The Lead Member for Regeneration and Culture advised that the council was in contact with the current theatre operator to explore options to improve the facilities, when the existing contract has come to an end.
The committee discussed whether the proposed target for visitor numbers to Hastings Museum and Art Gallery of 45,000 in 2016/17 was too high, as the target for 2015/16 had not been met. The Lead Member for Regeneration and Culture explained that visitor numbers over the past year had been affected by works to the storage area at the museum, which had limited capacity for special exhibitions and private views. The works to the storage area have now been completed and the number of schools visits had already significantly increased. It was therefore considered that the proposed target for visitor numbers was achievable
Members noted the target for total attendances at council Leisure Centres and potential options to encourage use of the facilities.
The committee were mindful of a significant increase in the number of homelessness acceptances over the past year, and noted that this trend may continue in 2016/17. The Deputy Leader of the Council and Housing, Communications and Equalities portfolio holder acknowledged these concerns, she also highlighted the extensive work the council was undertaking to support homelessness preventions.
The Director of Corporate Services and Governance gave members an update presentation on the council’s organisational transformation programme. She highlighted key work packages which had been undertaken over the past year and efforts to engage all staff in the transformation process.
The committee thanked all staff for their efforts and achievements throughout the year.
RESOLVED (unanimously) that: -
1. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee thank staff for their hard work in achieving those key activities set out in the corporate plan;
2. The comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the proposed performance indicator targets for 2016/17 be referred to the Cabinet meeting on 4 July 2016, and;
3. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee continue to assist the council pilot new ways of presenting performance during 2016/17 in line with the changes from two to one Overview and Scrutiny Committee
The reason for this decision was:
To assist with the approval process for the corporate plan and assist Overview and Scrutiny Committee members to undertake their performance management role.
Supporting documents:
- Performance and Financial Monitoring, item 3. PDF 163 KB
- Corporate Services and Governance Performance Update, item 3. PDF 113 KB
- Transformation Programme Update, item 3. PDF 142 KB
- OperationalServicesPerformanceUpdate, item 3. PDF 169 KB
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