Agenda item

Purpose: To report Q1 outturns for the Key Accountable Measures which monitor performance against the 2021/22 Council Performance Framework. To provide assurance that the objectives set out in the Council Strategy and other areas of significant activity are being managed effectively. To present, by exception, those measures that are predicted to be 'amber' or 'red' and provide information on any remedial action taken and the impact of that action. To recommend changes to measures/targets as requested by services.

Resolved to note the progress made in delivering the Council Strategy Delivery Plan 2019-2023, a maintained strong performance for core business areas, good results for the majority of the measures relating to the Council’s priorities for improvement, and remedial actions taken where performance is below target. 

This decision is not subject to call in as:

·      Report is to note only

therefore it will be implemented immediately.

The Executive considered a report (Agenda Item 9) which sought to provide assurance that the core business and Council priorities for improvement measures in the Council Strategy 2019-2023 were being managed effectively. During Q1, strategic management and Members of the Executive had identified additional outcomes to be included in the Council Strategy Delivery Plan and arrangements were being made to include them in the Q2 performance report.

The report highlighted successes and, where performance had fallen below the expected level, presented information on the remedial action taken, and the impact of that action.

Councillor Howard Woollaston said the statistics in the report showed the outstanding performance of the Council and he thanked Officers for their efforts in difficult times. Some of the previous quarter’s indicators had been seriously impacted by Covid-19, including the collection of Council Tax and Business Rates as well as Ofsted inspections but these were now back to normal levels. Councillor Woollaston flagged two areas – appraisals and training – though these had measures in place to allow them to return to previous acceptable levels.

Councillor Lynne Doherty drew the Executive’s attention to paragraphs 5.8, 5.9, 5.10 and 5.11 of the report which showed several awards had been made to West Berkshire Council. These were noteworthy in particular as they had been achieved over the last 18 months when it had been very difficult to continue business as usual whilst responding to a global pandemic. Councillor Doherty said it was also reassuring to see some of the positive economic indicators considering the concerns with regard to recovery following the impact of Covid-19.

Councillor Jo Stewart clarified that the provisional numbers on the dashboards on page 79 of the report were because the majority of the Adult Social Care figures had to be given final sign-off from the Department of Health and Social Care to make sure that the Council aligned internally with what was reported statutorily.

Councillor Lee Dillon noted that the average number of days to make a full decision on new housing benefit claims was 20 which was one day over the target of 19 days and the rationale was that the team was down one member of staff, the vacancy for which was currently being advertised. In addition, self-isolation grants were due to end in September 2021 and recruitment would take place for an additional staff member. Councillor Dillon asked for clarification as whether it was intended therefore to recruit one or two new additional staff members and whether the need for additional resource should have been recognised earlier. Councillor Ross Mackinnon said as far as he was aware the intention was to recruit two new staff members. The Revenue and Benefits team had proved to be an invaluable resource throughout the pandemic and had been redeployed across the Council in various guises to form a rapid response team across many different services. The Government had provided financial support but unfortunately no additional staff had been provided in order to administer it. Rather than it being the case that the need for additional resource had not been recognised, it was more a case that staffing and recruitment had been a challenge and there had been an inability to bring in staff with the appropriate skills and expertise.

Councillor Alan Macro drew attention to paragraph 5.29 of the report which stated “the Regulation 19 consultation to inform the submission of a New Local Plan for examination (Strategic Goal) in November 2022 is on track and in line with the Local Development Scheme agreed in April 2020” and asked whether that had been updated since the Local Plan had been put on pause. Councillor Doherty said she believed the report had been published before the pause of the Local Plan so there was likely to be a change for Quarter 2.

Councillor Tony Vickers noted that paragraphs 5.13 and 5.23 referred to child protection issues for which reporting of these had understandably increased since lockdown and he asked where West Berkshire stood against their peers, whether this reflected a national pattern and what action was being taken to deal with this increase. Councillor Dominic Boeck confirmed there had been an increase in referrals and incidents to Children’s Services. Close working was being undertaken with partner agencies and Social Workers were focused on supporting those families who were at greatest risk. Councillor Boeck added that some of the issues children were facing were affected by their home circumstances but also that some of the referrals were at the extreme end of the spectrum that started with anxiety in schools. Councillor Doherty said the increase in referrals was a reflection of the national picture and issues that had been hidden over the last 18 months had now come to the surface. Councillor Boeck said that in 2020, the Council’s Psychologists had warned there was a hidden problem and subsequently the department had prepared themselves for the realisation of the concerns that were being raised.

RESOLVED to note the progress made in delivering the Council Strategy Delivery Plan 2019-2023, a maintained strong performance for the core business areas, good results for the majority of the measures relating to the Council’s priorities for improvement, and remedial actions taken where performance was below target.

Other options considered: None.