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.

Resolved that progress and achievements be noted and to review the appropriateness of any remedial actions taken to improve performance particularly in relation to non-domestic rates collected as a percentage of non-domestic rates due.

This decision is eligible to be ‘called-in’.  However, if the decision has not been ‘called-in’ by 5.00pm on 10 September 2020, then it will be implemented.

The Executive considered a report (Agenda Item 8) concerning the provision of assurance that the core business and Council priorities for improvement measures were being managed effectively as at Quarter One of 2020/21. The report also highlighted successes and where performance had fallen below the expected level, presented information on any remedial action taken, and the impact of that action.

Councillor Jo Stewart stated that in Quarter One it was possible to see the impact of Covid-19 in some areas but there were many core business areas which had retained a ‘green’ position due to resilience in the workforce. One area which had been particularly challenging was the collection of non-domestic rates as this had been impacted by the Council’s conscious measures put in place to support local businesses. Councillor Stewart highlighted a number of areas where performance had improved such as the Library Service, reduction in staff sickness and the launch of the Employee Assistance Programme.

Councillor Graham Bridgman seconded the report and stated that it included some interesting information. He referred to the significant drop in the number of people receiving long term services in Adult Social Care. This was largely due to Covid and it was an area where there had been a particularly high number of deaths. There had also been a reduction of 24.8% in the number of new adult safeguarding enquiries. The Care Quality Commission had not been operating as it had prior to Covid in terms of inspecting service providers as it had not wanted to add to the burden on care homes.

Councillor Lynne Doherty thanked Officers for their hard work in providing and contributing to the Quarter One report particularly as many had been involved in supporting the Covid response. The majority of indicators were positive but one area of concern that she raised was the increase in the number of reported domestic abuse cases which aligned with the national trend. There was a 36.8% rise in cases compared to the Quarter One figure for 2019/20. She was surprised to see this level of increase as the Council had done a lot of hard work in raising awareness around domestic abuse. Councillor Howard Woollaston confirmed that he had also been alarmed by this figure and he had raised the issue with Thames Valley Police. There was a difference between domestic crime and abuse. There was always more which could be done in this area and it would be necessary to ensure that thinking was joined up with other partner agencies. He would look at the background to the figure quoted in conjunction with Councillor Jo Stewart as he agreed that it did not feel right.

Councillor Lee Dillon thanked Officers for all their hard work and he was pleased to see such a positive report as he was sure that most Members would have expected to see a decrease in performance over this period. The focus around staff wellbeing was also welcomed. He noted that there had been a downturn in figures in a lot of areas and he was concerned that once services re-opened there would be a backlog which might be challenging for staff to accommodate. He supported the Business Rate exemptions but felt that the paper had not been updated as the decision around that had been made in August. Councillor Stewart confirmed that her focus was to ensure that staff felt supported at all times. She would also update the report to reflect the position around the Business Rate decision.

Councillor Erik Pattenden referred to paragraph 5.10 where it stated that referrals to Children and Family Services had reduced across the board. With the re-opening of schools there could be more referrals and he queried what capacity there was to cope with that. Councillor Dominic Boeck responded that the resources were the same as it had always been but this was a situation which needed to be monitored. However, the local authority also relied on partners to deliver services and if a peak did arise then it would need to be managed appropriately.

Councillor Alan Macro referred to paragraph 5.12 relating to the reduction in the number of new adult safeguarding enquiries and the fact that the focus had been on ensuring a thorough triage process. He queried whether all valid cases were getting through. Councillor Graham Bridgman responded that this was an area of uncertainty as it often relied on someone else to make the enquiry. However, those that presented were being dealt with properly. He would ask Officers to provide a more developed response to Councillor Macro.

Councillor Alan Macro also mentioned the exception reports and in particular the CQC rating for care homes. The report did not say much about Walnut Close and he asked for assurance that other domains would be addressed in the immediate future. Councillor Graham Bridgman confirmed that there was ongoing consultation taking place to look at the future of Walnut Close as the fabric of the building was not fit for purpose. Consultant were also looking at the whole provision of services at Birchwood.

Councillor Tony Vickers raised a number of issues in relation to increase in the number of households on the Common Housing Register and the likely further demand in the future; the drop in the number of permanent carriage repairs and the slippage of submitting a new Local Plan for examination by December 2022. Councillor Hilary Cole stated that the Housing Team were working closely with providers and there were financial packages in place. The expectation was that the numbers would rise. Councillor Vickers stressed the need for more affordable housing to accommodate people who might lose their homes. In relation to the carriage repairs Councillor Somner confirmed that a different scale of criteria would be used to review that as there had been a fewer cases of damage being reported to the Council. Councillor Hilary Cole confirmed that there had been slippage and this had been raised at Planning Advisory Group some months ago. This was due to vacancies in the Planning Policy Team but she was confident that the deadline of December 2022 would be achieved.

Councillor Adrian Abbs referred to paragraph 5.18 and the increase in fly tipping of 38%. He asked if the Portfolio Holder could explain the reason for that. Councillor Steve Ardagh-Walter agreed that fly tipping was unwelcome at any time. However, incidents of fly tipping in this area remained low. West Berkshire was starting from a low base when compared with neighbouring authorities. Any rise was unwelcome but it was not green waste which had been fly tipped but more general rubbish. The charge for the green waste collection service had not increased the fly tipping of green waste.

Councillor Alan Law confirmed that he was chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee and had been involved in setting the targets. However, this was the first time that he had seen the results. He specifically referred to the target around supporting local employers which should state that Senior Officers and Members should meet with the Chief Executive of the top ten businesses on a regular basis. He therefore asked if Councillors Jo Stewart and Ross Mackinnon could review and change this target. Councillor Mackinnon confirmed that he would give consideration to amending this prior to Quarter Two along with a number of other KPI’s.

Councillor Martha Vickers referred to the figures around domestic abuse and she stated that it was good to see that these were being looked into but she asked when it was likely to get a report back on what action was being taken. Would the report go to the Health and Wellbeing Board? Councillor Lynne Doherty confirmed that the Health and Wellbeing Board would be the best place to take it. It would be necessary to look at where the figure was coming from and if it was realistic. She was aware that work was ongoing on this issue but she agreed that the report should be directed to the Health and Wellbeing Board.

RESOLVED that progress and achievements be noted and to review the appropriateness of any remedial actions taken to improve performance, in particular in relation to non-domestic rates collected as a percentage of non-domestic rates due.

Reason for the decision: To note progress and achievements.

Other options considered: None.