Issue - meetings

Report of Director of Regeneration and Planning

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Dean Sabri

(KEY) (1) That the achievements and progress against Corporate Plan priorities for 2017/18, as set out in part A of the report be noted. (2) That the General Fund, HRA and Collection Fund financial performance for the quarter ended September 2017, as set out in part B of the report be agreed. (3) That the transfer from reserves as set out in section 1 in part B of the report be agreed. (4) That the amended capital programme as set out in appendix 4 be agreed. (5) That the Treasury Management performance as set out in section 5 in part B of the report be agreed.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Regeneration and Planning on the Council’s performance against the Corporate Plan’s priority actions, performance indicators and targets over the quarter two period for 2017/18.  

Key achievements during the quarter were detailed in part A of the report and Cabinet commended staff for their performance during this quarter.   Achievements included the installation of the first iconic beach hut, reduction in fly-tipping and the Bandstand receiving 48,584 patrons for performances during the quarter against a target of 22,000.

Where performance or projects had not achieved their target, an explanation note was provided, together with a summary of the management action that had been taken and this was detailed in appendix 1.

In response to a question from the Cabinet in relation to the crime and disorder figures, detailed in section 3.1 of appendix 1, the Director of Regeneration and Planning advised that updated figures had been received from Sussex Police and indicated that the performance indicator was now back on target.

Part B of the report detailed the Council’s financial performance during quarter two.

Resolved (key decision): (1) That the achievements and progress against Corporate Plan priorities for 2017/18, as set out in part A of the report be noted.

(2) That the General Fund, HRA and Collection Fund financial performance for the quarter ended September 2017, as set out in part B of the report be agreed.

(3) That the transfer from reserves as set out in section 1 in part B of the report be agreed.

(4) That the amended capital programme as set out in appendix 4 be agreed.

(5) That the Treasury Management performance as set out in section 5 in part B of the report be agreed.

Reason for decision:

To enable Cabinet members to consider specific aspects of the Council’s progress and performance.

Report of Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Planning and Strategy.

Lead Cabinet member: Councillors Gill Mattock and Dean Sabri.

(KEY) i) Achievements and progress against priorities for 2017/18 noted; ii) General Fund, HRA and Collection Fund financial performance for the quarter ended June 2017 agreed; iii) The virements agreed; iv) Amended capital programme agreed (appendix 4 of report); vi) Treasury Management performance agreed (section 5 in part B of report).

The Cabinet considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Planning and Strategy on the Council’s performance against the Corporate Plan’s priority actions, performance indicators and targets over the quarter one period for 2017/18.  Part B of the report detailed the Council’s financial performance during quarter one.

Visiting member, Councillor Ballard asked questions regarding the Birling Gap haze, following receipt of an anonymous email about the incident that occurred at the end of August 2017.  Councillor Ballard’s questions centred on the long term reputational risks to Eastbourne, whether the protocol exercised by the authorities was adequate and the Chairman’s future questioning of Southern Water.  Councillor Tutt responded that updates were sought daily and the issue would continue to be pursued in terms of determining the source.  He commended the emergency services for their immediate response to the incident, which had minimised public anxiety.

Visiting member, Councillor Freebody addressed the Cabinet and commended the Council’s performance for answering 86.17% of calls within 30 seconds.  Councillor Freebody asked questions on the Council’s sickness absence and net additional homes provided.  Officers responded that the rise in staff absence was due to a small number of staff with long term medical conditions. The Council’s Joint Staff Committee, attended by staff and management, had discussed this issue and were committed to working together to ensure that staff were supported.  Councillor Freebody was also advised that although only 5 net additional dwellings had been completed, 322 net additional units were under construction.

Resolved (key decision): i) That the achievements and progress against Corporate Plan priorities for 2017/18 are noted.

ii) That the General Fund, HRA and Collection Fund financial performance for the quarter ended June 2017, as set out in part B of the report be agreed.

iii) That the virements as set out in paragraph 1.4 of part B of the report be agreed.

iv) That the amended capital programme as set out in Appendix 4 be agreed.

vi) That the Treasury Management performance as set out in section 5 of part B of the report be agreed.

Report of Deputy Chief Executive.

The Financial Performance section of this report will be to follow.

The Committee considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive regarding quarter one 2017/18 performance against the Corporate Plan priority actions, performance indicators and targets.

Members’ discussion included:

·         That the Head of Business Planning and Performance be requested at a future meeting to:

a)   Update Members further regarding how homelessness issues are being addressed.

b)   Provide further data to assist the Committee in their understanding of the variance in sickness absence.

c)   Provide further clarification of the mitigations in place to address current issues in the joint IT migration work.

·         That the Head of Finance provide an explanation to Members for the variances between profile budgets and actuals at a future meeting of the Committee.

Officers responded that:

·         A meeting had previously been arranged between the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Committee, and the Director of Service Delivery for an update regarding homelessness.

·         Further detailed sickness absence statistics would be provided by the Head of Business Planning and Performance to Members of the Committee at the Committee meeting on 4 December.

·         Managers were proactively managing staff sickness, including providing access to support for staff. There was also a confidential counselling service available to all staff.

·         The IT system migration had become smoother as the Joint Transformation Programme had progressed. Delays related to individual cases. Some staff had now been successfully migrated and were able to work flexibly across both Councils.

·         The Head of Finance would provide a response to Members of the Committee regarding the variances between profile budgets and actuals, and a forecast of total borrowing to April 2020, at the next Committee meeting on 4 December.

Resolved:

(1)        That the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Committee be updated on staff wellbeing and sickness absence by the Assistant Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development, as appropriate and with regard to phase two of the Joint Transformation Programme.

(2)        That the financial performance section of the quarter 2 report be reviewed by the Head of Finance to account for Members’ comments; and that a forecast of total borrowing to April 2020 be provided to Members by the Head of Finance at the next Committee meeting on 4 December.

Reason:

To demonstrate the discharge of the Scrutiny Committee function to monitor all aspects of performance management activities as required by Part 3 section 2.2 (7) of the Constitution of the Council.