Agenda item

To consider the attached report of the Head of Corporate Services and Democracy.

The Head of Corporate Services and Democracy presented the Strategic Performance Dashboard for Quarter One, 2023/24.

Members were advised that the Performance Management Framework was being reviewed following the trial period and that a new strategic and operational performance dashboard would be developed based on the new Corporate Plan once it had been adopted.

The key points in the Strategic Performance Dashboard for Quarter 1, 2023-24:

·         There had been an improvement in resolving anti-social behaviour (ASB) cases within 30-days. The resolution rate had increased from 62.12% in Quarter 4 2022/23 to 97.78% in Quarter 1 2023/24.

·         The number of second-stage complaints referred to the council’s complaints officer has increased by just under 50%, from 19 in Quarter 4, 2022/23 to 28 in Quarter 1, 2023/24. This was due to an increase in complaints made against the Planning and Development and Housing Needs/Options teams.

·         The introduction of a new Performance Indicator to show the “Number of new dwellings across the district – all developers”.

·         The Council had added four homes to the residential housing stock this quarter, all of which are general needs accommodation acquisitions (two affordable rent and two social rent). Since 2020/21, the Council had added 150 homes to the council housing stock.

·         There were continued pressures in respect of homelessness reflecting the national situation.

·         The Council continued to take a zero-tolerance approach to damp and mould. There had been 400 cases reported to the Council, the overwhelming majority of which had now had works completed. The remainder had works ordered and were in progress.

Members discussed the following points:

·         The increase in the number of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) was raised. In response it was stated that new processes had been implemented in consultation with staff and areas were now being targeted based on need. The success of this approach was demonstrated in the low level of appeals against PCNs. 

·         To seek clarification that the percentage of appeals upheld for indicator PAD005 (Percentage of appeals upheld by the Planning Inspectorate as a percentage of those submitted) was correct.

·         To seek clarification as to why the performance of PAD007 (Planning Fee Income) was down on previous years.

·         In response to questions over the HUQ and Springboard data on footfall in the town centres, Members were advised that officers had similar concerns over the data and were working to identify an alternative provider.

·         To ask that the definitions of detritus and litter be included within future editions of the Strategic Performance Dashboard.

·         To raise concerns over the level of street cleanliness which members felt had worsened despite the figures to the contrary shown in the report. Members were advised that the data in WAS012 (Environmental cleanliness: Percentage of streets containing litter) was based on a visual sampling of streets by officers.

·         To discuss the housing stock figures. The Strategic Housing Manager advised that while an indicative programme would be something that could be provided it would be subject to volatility.

·         Members welcomed the support provided to tenants by benefit and money advisors.