Issue - meetings

To provide an update on Council performance for the period 1 October 2017 to 31 December 2017 (report of the Executive Director Strategy and Governance enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Executive Director Strategy and Governance which provided an update on Council performance for the period 1 October 2017 to 31 December 2017.

It was noted that the in year collection rate for Council Tax and Business Rates was slightly behind target.  However, members were advised that proactive work was being undertaken to rectify the situation and that it was anticipated that end of year targets in the final quarter would be met.  Officers would be monitoring performance carefully.

DECISION:

That the report be noted.

(Other options considered;

·         Do nothing;

Reasons for decision:

·         No recommendations are made.  The report is presented for consideration in order that members are aware of how the Council is delivering its services and ow it is progressing against its Corporate Priorities.)

To provide an update on Council performance for the period 1 October 2017 to 31 December 2017 (report of the Executive Director Strategy and Governance enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Executive Director Strategy and Governance which provided an update on Council performance for the period 1 October 2017 to 31 December 2017. Areas where performance had improved since the previous period were brought to members’ attention, as were areas where performance was below expected levels or was considered to be worsening.

Quarter 3 saw performance remain steady in comparison to Quarter 2.  Performance was rated as moderate with 11 indicators being green (58%) which indicated good performance.  There were 3 (16%) amber indicators and 5 red indicators (26%), highlighting lower than expected performance.  There were 5 indicators which were classified as data only, which meant that they were monitored without requiring a target, and 1 in which the data was currently unavailable.

In discussing the report the following key points emerged:

·         Housing voids had been highlighted as an area for improvement, and members were unhappy at this performance.  It was clarified that this issue would be discussed in further depth at the next Panel meeting, where performance against the recommendations of the Performance of the Re-Letting of Voids Task Group was already due to be considered..

·         At the last Panel meeting, members had requested whether a new indicator could be added to start monitoring rent collection for Welland Homes?  Officers advised that this was in the process of being done and would be  reported as part of the next cycle, covering periods 2 to 4.

·         The report showed that planning applications were down for the quarter.  Would this have an effect on income?

o   Members were advised that quarterly figures only reflected a small point in time, and that the highlight figure would be at the end of the year.  The Authority was on track to show an increase in income.  Planning fees had recently increased by 20% so revenue next year would be in line with the past year and would thus balance out.  The end of financial year was the best time to get a true reflection of the situation.

·         Would the increase in fees be used within planning service?

o   Yes, these amounts were ring fenced to be used in this way. A report would be provided to full Council in due course as to how the Authority was dealing with this.

·         The Council Tax in year collection rate was 0.54% behind target.

o   The profiling of debt pushed back to end of financial year was being looked at, and this was currently more than last year’s debt that was collectable. The in year collection rate should be at target by the end of the financial year.

·         Members commented that consideration should perhaps be given to whether any increase in Council Tax was linked to amounts that could not be collected.  It was still too early to see a trend.

o   Officers commented that for 2017/18, officers would need  to look at changes to the Council Tax Support Scheme. There were a number of factors contributing to changes in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41