Consideration was given to the report of the
Assistant Director – Corporate which provided an update on
how the Council is performing for the period 1 April 2024 to 30
June 2024.
The Business Intelligence and Change Manager
introduced the item and highlighted the following points:
- Q1 SHDC Performance Report 2024/25
was at Appendix A;
- Q1 SHDC Trend and Insights Report
2024/25 was at Appendix B;
- Regarding areas on or above target
(green), performance improvements had been experienced in several
areas including in respect of the Council’s investment
properties and safety checks on housing stock;
- Areas of underperformance (red) in
the following areas were accompanied by commentary outlining
progress and improvement plans in place:
- Homelessness Prevention;
- Corporate Complaints;
- Subject Access Requests; and
- Speed of processing new housing
benefit claims.
Members considered the report and made the
following comments:
- Members were encouraged by the
improved performance areas noted within the report.
- Members requested that performance
figures be stated as numerical values rather than solely in
percentage terms. Where changes in performance was stated, such
‘as an increase of five’, the baseline figure also
needed to be stated.
- The Business Intelligence and Change
Manager acknowledged this as a previous request. Information in the
requested format was stated in the report where it had been made
available with more work to do.
- Members requested an explanation of
the 108% performance in respect of homelessness cases successfully
resolved before a customer became homeless.
- The Business Intelligence and Change
Manager referred to the commentary against this item which stated
an overflow from the previous quarter. The calculation included all
cases closed during period of the report (some of which had been
opened in the previous quarter) against cases opened solely during
the period of the report.
- Members noted the increase in car
parking income and queried whether this had resulted from increased
charges or increased footfall to the town. It was important to
assess whether the increased charges had deterred visitors or not.
In addition, members queried whether the forecasted income had
changed since the implementation of the increased parking fees.
- The Business Intelligence and Change
Manager would investigate these issues and a response would be
circulated to members after the meeting. Visitor numbers would be
included in future reports.
- Members referred to the
‘Kingdom Contract: Number of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs)
issued for fly tipping’ data and queried the notable increase
in data for the Q4 2023/24 period compared to other quarters. Did
this reflect an upsurge in cases or in enforcement activity?
Following this, members requested a comprehensive report come
forward to the next committee meeting in respect of
the Kingdom contract specifically regarding performance across the
whole district at Parish level and which explained the data
variances.
·
Members queried whether the public facility at the
Peele site in Long Sutton was to close. It was important that a
facility was available in the town.
o
The Assistant Director – Leisure and Culture responded that
the council’s lease was due to end in December 2024 and the
facility would return to the Academy. The Academy were
investigating alternative solutions for provision of a public
facility.
AGREED:
a)
That the contents of the report be noted; and
b)
That a report in respect of the Kingdom Contract come forward to
the Panel as requested.