Agenda item

Purpose: To provide assurance that the core business and council priorities for improvement measures (Council Strategy 2019-2023) are being managed effectively. To highlight successes and where performance has fallen below the expected level, present information on the remedial action taken, and the impact of that action.

The Commission considered a report (Agenda Item 8) concerning the 2020/21 Performance Q1 and to provide assurance that the core business and council priorities for improvement measures were being managed effectively. Catalin Bogos also noted that the report sought to highlight successes and where performance had fallen below the expected level, present information on the remedial action taken, and the impact of that action.

Catalin Bogos noted that the measures shown in the report, monitoring performance from April to June 2020, had been greatly affected by the restrictions introduced by the government to manage Covid-19, starting with the national lockdown on 23 March 2020. However, prompt response at local level ensured that the strong performance of the Council’s services has been maintained. He noted that the majority of performance measures reflecting the core business areasare however on track to achieve the targets for the year. As an exception, the following area had been impacted by the Council’s conscious measures put in place to support local businesses:

· Non domestic rates collected as percentage of non-domestic rates due

He noted that the Council’s strong performance position was further confirmed when performance is compared with other local authorities. The majority of the Council’s measures rank in the first and second quartiles. It is also clear that this already positive relative position will continue to improve in many areas, as performance improves in activities such as the speed with which decisions are made on Housing Benefit Claims and determinations made on planning applications.

He asked for OSMC to note the report, including the following recommendations approved by the Executive:

·       To note progress and achievements.

·       To review the appropriateness of any remedial actions taken to improve performance, in particular for:

·       Non domestic rates collected as percentage of non-domestic rates due

Councillor Brooks pointed to page 69 and ‘ensuring the wellbeing of older people and vulnerable adults’. He noted that the Council’s RAG rating of 66.7% was a long way off the national level of 84%.

Catalin Bogos noted that the small number of adult social care inspected services, detailed on page 89, was the reason behind the low percentage, but that the services had worked with external consultants to try and improve and that the Care Quality Commission were not conducting their inspection yet. Therefore, the percentage would remain the same until the inspection had been carried out.

Councillor Doherty noted that Councillor Bridgman was keeping a very close eye on these figures.

Councillor Hurley pointed to ‘non domestic rates collected as percentage non domestic rates due’ on page 68. He asked why the percentage was so low.

Councillor Mackinnon noted that this was down to the decision to defer rates to later in the year.

Councillor Law pointed to page 66, supporting local employers and the target of retaining 10. He noted that this was not the target, but the target was to meet with these employers on a regular basis.

Councillor Dillon pointed to domestic abuse numbers climbing back up. He asked if there was any news on the impact of the partnership.

Councillor Doherty noted that work was on-going and additional work was being put in place to develop the partnership.

Resolved that:

(1)      The recommendations were approved