Agenda item

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

Resolved that: Executive

·         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 is below target.

This decision is not subject to call in as:

·      Report is to note only

therefore it will be implemented immediately.

Councillor Tom Marino introduced the report (Agenda Item 8), which provided assurance that the core business and council priorities for improvement measures in the Council Strategy 2019-2023 were being managed effectively.

Councillor Graham Bridgman noted that there had been an increase in recorded crime and non-crime domestic abuse cases. Councillor Bridgman clarified that the Council were reporting on the figures recorded by Thames Valley Police and commented that he had received a report from the Superintendent. Councillor Bridgman read the statement which reported that the local policing authority had been working hard to prioritise violence against women and girls, providing increased training to officers and scrutiny from supervisors to improve all forms of domestic crimes. There had been evidence that officers were failing to recognise offences and so missing a number of crimes. The Superintendent’s report confirmed that greater scrutiny had been placed on the domestic risk assessment to ensure broader questions were asked by attending officers. It was noted that the Policing Authority had also introduced a Domestic Abuse Champion whose role was to re-engage on an ongoing basis with victims of domestic abuse, and to support medium risk and vulnerable victims. The Superintendent had noted that as a consequence of these initiatives, there was evidence to show that victims felt much more supported and confident to report further incidents and crimes. Concluding the statement, Councillor Bridgman commented that he felt assured that the police were aware of the issues and taking actions to address. 

Councillor Erik Pattenden referred to Table 30 (number of referrals to the Emotional Health Triage), and expressed surprise that numbers were reducing. Councillor Dominic Boeck commented that the figures were encouraging and suggested a return to more stable reporting following the peaks during the pandemic.

Councillor Jeff Brooks referred to the table reporting staff turnover on page 67 of the Agenda pack and queried the reason for the increase. Joseph Holmes, Executive Director for Resources commented that information was being gathered through exit interviews and that there had been investment in new talent acquisition staff to investigate improved recruitment and retention schemes. 

Councillor Alan Macro noted that the Council no longer monitored delayed transfers of care for those patients in the Adult Social Care system, and whilst he acknowledged that it was no longer recorded nationally he requested that it be re-introduced as a performance indicator locally. Councillor Jo Stewart noted that some data was still captured and agreed that Officers would review to determine if the information could be reported on a regular basis.

Councillor Macro queried why the Care Quality Commission (CQC), had not reviewed the rating for Birchwood Care Home given that they had looked at all the other Council run care homes in January. Councillor Stewart commented that the CQC had undertaken a very ‘light touch’ high level review and determined that they did not need to return for a further review of the care homes. 

In response to a query from Councillor Macro as to when introduction of the electronic medication administration system would take place at Birchwood Care Home, Councillor Stewart commented that it was imminent.

When asked about the level of confidence that Birchwood Care Home would obtain a ‘Good’ CQC rating when inspected, Councillor Stewart responded that a permanent registered manager had just been recruited to the team, which would provide consistency and leadership, and that staff had been undertaking a huge amount of work to improve the Home. Councillor Stewart offered to bring further progress reports to Executive in the future.

Councillor Adrian Abbs referred to page 71 of the Agenda pack which detailed business counts and job density figures and requested assurance that the data was being monitored. Councillor Abbs suggested that the trends between the 2017/18 and 2022/23 data implied a weakening of business in the area.  Councillor Mackinnon commented that the data was being monitored, and suggested that the trends in business numbers related to Covid. Councillor Mackinnon agreed that there needed to be increased job density in West Berkshire and urged support from all Members for the London Road Industrial Estate plans which were aimed at creating hundreds of high quality jobs.

Councillor Lee Dillon referred to the Environmental exception report detailed on page 88 of the Agenda pack and queried how the outturn was measured in practice and whether litter was only removed from Council held land. Councillor Ardagh-Walter clarified that the measure related only to public highways and pavements and would not include playing fields.

Councillor Dillon commented that whilst the figures for the average number of days taken to make a full decision on new Housing Benefit claims was reducing, it was still above the target 19 days, and queried whether the issue was being prioritised. Councillor Woollaston noted that the report referred to Quarter Two data and suggested that the Quarter Three information would show a significant improvement, confirming that additional staff had been assigned to the department.

In response to a query from Councillor Dillon relating to delays in processing planning applications, Eric Owens, Interim Director for Place, explained that the department was currently in the process of recruiting 5-6 staff who were hoped to be in place by March. Further, processes and procedures were being enhanced and so it was hoped that performance would have improved by the Quarter Three report.

Councillor Pattenden queried what steps were being taken to tackle the recruitment issue within the Children and Family Services team, particularly in relation to the data recorded for the percentage of children in care, where children had been visited in the past six weeks. Councillor Boeck responded that he had been disappointed and concerned by the reduction in figures, but commented that he had been assured that no child had been placed in danger as a consequence and that the children had been visited, even if not within the performance timeframe. Councillor Boeck acknowledged that the matter could not be ignored, but that there was a recruitment challenge both within the service and nationally. It was reported that the recruitment and retention strategy for the service had been revised and was in the process of being implemented. Councillor Boeck suggested that whilst there was a recruitment issue, there had also been an increase in demand for the service which had been exacerbated by the pandemic.

Councillor Abbs referred to the exception report detailing the percentage of household waste recycled, composted and reused, and suggested that the explanation for reduction as drought, did not appear to be evidenced. Further, he suggested that the current target of 49.5% should be significantly higher.  Councillor Ardagh-Walter commented that weather would always have an effect on the figures, and expressed confidence that introduction of the food waste recycling scheme would significantly increase the tonnage to over 50% by the same time in 2024. Councillor Ardagh-Walter added that a new target would be set for the 2023-24 municipal year and he was keen to stretch it further.         

RESOLVED that: Executive

·       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 is below target.