Agenda item

Councillor Andy Hull, Executive Member for Finance and Performance was present and was accompanied by Tim Spafford, Interim Head of Strategy, Policy and Performance.

During consideration of the report the following main points were made –

·         Councillor Hull stated that discussions were taking place as to revisions in the performance format as a number of the indicators were not  wholly within the Council’s control

·         It was noted that overcrowding was being dealt with more effectively

·         Boiler replacement was at present ‘skewed’ towards the private sector and this needed to be more equitable with Council tenants

·         Whilst there was lower crime/ASB however serious youth crime had increased by35%. This was attributed to a reduction, due to it being more difficult to steal and reuse mobile phones, to youths reverting to previous types of crime such as drugs which led to youth violence. This increase was being considered by the Police, the Executive Member Community Safety and relevant officers. There was a focus on a  small number of more prolific offenders as these were responsible for the majority of crimes committed

·         There had been some success in reducing youth unemployment and 20 new apprenticeship places had been secured

·         Performance under the Best Start to Life in terms of fluoride varnish applications had improved from Quarter1 2013/14 however there was a decrease in performance over the same period in relation to the number of women booked into maternity services by 12 weeks

·         In relation to Healthy Independent Lives there had been an increase in the proportion of carers and people using social care who receive direct payments

·         There had been a good performance on reducing the number of missed waste collections per calendar month however more challenging targets may be set

·         Councillor Hull expressed concern that sickness levels were currently too high and that a strategy would be put in place to address this

·         In relation to the number of female lone parents helped back into employment it was stated that there was a target of 150 however this would need to be looked at in the future given that there was no longer a Corporate Plan

·         A Member referred to the fact that it would be useful to ascertain the details of the performance management framework and the rationale for how some of the performance indicators were determined. Councillor Hull stated that he would report on this at the next meeting

·         Councillor Hull indicated that the Council administration had made employment one of its main priorities and the Employment Commission which had been set up was due to report shortly

·         Concern was expressed at the performance of Partners and that this may be reflected in the rent arrears increase amongst PFI tenants and this was above the 2% target. Councillor Hull stated that he would try to ascertain the reasons for this

·         In response to a question as to whether the Council were receiving an equitable share of renewable resources from energy companies, the Director of Environment and Regeneration stated that he would investigate and inform Members thereon

·         In response to a question as to why the interlinking of factors affecting performance were not highlighted Councillor Hull stated that he would investigate the possibility of this

RESOLVED:

(a)  That the report be noted

(b)  That Councillor Hull be requested to report back on the matters raised above on the rationale for determination of performance indicators and details of the performance management framework, the reasons as to why rent arrears were above target amongst PFI tenants, and whether there could be an interlinking of factors that could affect performance indicators

(c)  That the Director of Environment and Regeneration be requested to inform Members as to whether the Council were receiving adequate renewable resources from energy companies

                                                                                                 DER