Agenda item

Report of Deputy Chief Executive.

Members received the report which presented the Council’s progress and performance in respect of key projects and targets for the second quarter of the year (July- September 2018).

Discussion included:

North Street Quarter – The committee questioned which officers should be contacted regarding business resettlement support and requested that officers would relay this information to members before the next meeting.

Springman House – Members queried the narrow focus of the update. Officers agreed to check whether the Corporate Performance Report Quarter 3 narrative could be expanded to give details of other development on the site.

Air quality – Members were informed that officers were in the process of developing proposals for how air quality performance could best be reported (data and/or action plan progress).

Council tax – The committee noted the improvement regarding Council tax collection rates and commended the department.

Modular housing – Members noted that the six potential sites for modular housing had been reduced to one, and requested that officers provide an update whether other sites had been identified and were being considered.

Benefits – The committee suggested that the target for ‘The number of days taken to process new housing/council tax benefit claims’ should be changed from 20 days to 23 days, in line with the national average. The committee also noted that the benefits processing times performance had improved in October and commended the department.

Planning – Members requested that the Functional Lead for Housing and Development be invited to attend the next Scrutiny Committee meeting on 4 February 2019 to provide an update regarding planning applications, including a comparison of planning applications received this year and last year.

Fly tips – The committee requested additional data regarding the volume of fly tips during Quarter 3. Officers assured the committee that they would look into if there were any issues/delays with fly tips being reported via Report It app in Lewes.

Solution Sprint Project – Members were updated regarding a new Council project whereby the Corporate Management team requested the Business Planning and Performance team to help improve the performance of areas which were not meeting their targets. Currently, the Performance & Programme Lead was working closely on benefits processing and looking to see how the work could be more efficient. The project was going well and the team foresaw it being deployed to other areas of the Council.

Website – Members commented on the improved usability of the website now that it has a search function, however still felt that there were too many steps needed to land on the correct page. Members were encouraged to report any constructive feedback to the Customer Communications & Engagement Lead to help with the ongoing development of the website.

Resolved:

1)    That the Scrutiny Committee note progress and performance for Quarter 2 and;

2)    That the Scrutiny Committee recommend to Cabinet that the target for ‘The number of days taken to process new housing/council tax benefit claims’ be changed from 20 days to 23 days in line with the national average.

Reason:

To enable Scrutiny to consider specific aspects of the Council’sprogress and performance.