Issue - meetings

Cabinet:

a)    Noted the KPI results and comments at Appendix Aand progress against Business Plan actions at Appendix B

b)    Noted the reduction in target in relation to Land Charges Search Response Days, as part of a phased return to pre-Covid target level by the new financial year, as detailed within the comments section at SX025 at Appendix A.

Cabinet received the Quarter Three Performance. Councillor Bridget Smith, Leader of the Council, introduced the report, and thanked Officers for their continued work at the tail end of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Councillor Brian Milnes, Lead Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Licencing, praised the efforts of the Waste Services team during the past two years, and noted the positive feedback received from residents.

The Leader of the Council thanked Officers for their work and Cabinet:

a)    Noted the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) results and comments at Appendix Aand progress against Business Plan actions at Appendix B

b)    Noted the reduction in target in relation to Land Charges Search Response Days, as part of a phased return to pre-Covid target level by the new financial year, as detailed within the comments section at SX025 at Appendix A.

The Scrutiny and Overview Committee considered a report on the Council’s Quarter 3 (Q3) position regarding operational Key Performance Indicators and 2020-25 Business Plan actions, noting in particular the reduction in target in relation to Land Charges Search Response Days, as part of a phased return to pre-Covid target level by the new financial year.

Referring to Key Performance Indicator (KPI) H211 (Average days to re-let all housing stock), Councillor Dr. Claire Daunton ascertained that the reason for the higher refusal rates compared with those pre-Covid was due in part to publicity material giving insufficient information about the location of properties in terms of factors such as access to local facilities. Councillor Daunton was pleased to learn that the Authority was striving to improve the effectiveness of such material.

Councillor Sarah Cheung Johnson referred to the Business Plan Progress Report and received clarification that Measure B5ii) (Complete local engagement to understand what the community wants in the new community centre (Quarter 2)) referred to the community centre in Northstowe Phase 1. Councillor Cheung Johnson maintained that there had been minimal community engagement and urged the Authority to carry out more.

Councillor Cheung Johnson asked about Measure B5(iii) (Submit planning permission for new Civic Hub in Northstowe (Quarter 4)). Upon receiving clarification that consultation had been focussed on stakeholders, she asked that descriptive text be amended to reflect that fact and requested further community engagement.

Councillor Dr. Richard Williams expressed concern about the levels of staff turnover and formal complaints. He also urged the Authority to avoid the use of quantitive measures where qualitative data was being considered (in the Business Plan).

Councillor Heather Williams requested that bar and pie charts contain clear definition of categories other than by colour alone. Councillor Anna Bradnam commented that such graphs should contain clearly defined axes and make allowances for standard deviation.

Referring to KPI AH204 (Percentage of tenants satisfied with responsive repairs), Councillor Heather Williams noted the use of text messaging to obtain data but urged the Authority to offer an alternative option for those tenants not confident with mobile technology.

Councillor Heather Williams suggested that an indication of the number outstanding would help to identify the scale of the challenge faced in dealing with complaints.

Regarding Action D5 (Council and committee meetings will be run paper-free wherever possible), Councillor Anna Bradnam said that, in the interests of accessibility for all, paper agendas should remain an option for those Councillors who were unable to use, or uneasy with, information technology for whatever reason.

Subject to Officers consideration of comments made at this meeting, the

 Scrutiny and Overview Committee supported the presentation of the report to the Cabinet meeting on 22 March 2022.