Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors G Howman and A Morrison.

To approve the minutes from the Corporate Performance Panel held on 9 October 2017.

RESOLVED:  The minutes from the Corporate Performance Panel held on 9 October 2017were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Matters Arising

·         Homes in Multiple Occupation – Councillor Moriarty asked when the item would be considered by the Environment and Community Panel.  The Democratic Services Officer confirmed it was scheduled for 6 December 2017.

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of an interest should indicate the nature of the interest (if not already declared on the Register of Interests) and the agenda item to which it relates.  If a disclosable pecuniary interest is declared, the Member should withdraw from the room whilst the matter is discussed.

These declarations apply to all Members present, whether the Member is part of the meeting, attending to speak as a local Member on any item or simply observing the meeting from the public seating area.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider any business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chairman proposed to accept as urgent under Section 100(b)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There was no urgent business.

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chairman of their intention to do so and on what items they wish to be heard before the meeting commences.  Any Member attending the meeting under Standing Order 34 will only be permitted to speak on those items which have been previously notified to the Chairman.

There were no Members present under Standing Order 34.

There was no Chairman’s correspondence.

In presenting the report, the Revenues and Benefits Manager reminded the Panel that the Council must review and agree its 2018/2019 Council Tax Support (CTS) scheme for working age people by 31 January 2018.  Options for the draft CTS scheme for 2018/219 were presented to the Panel on 17 July 2017 and the preferred draft CTS scheme was chosen. This was agreed by Cabinet on 6 September 2017.  The draft CTS scheme was then opened to public consultation from 7 September 2017 to 18 October 2017.  15 responses were received, down from 31 responses last year.

The report detailed the results of the consultation and the recommended final CTS scheme for 2018/2019.

In response to questions from Councillor Collop on the consultation exercise and encouraging people to submit responses, the Chairman, Councillor Wareham commented that this question was continually raised year on year and added that no additional suggestions had been put forward to encourage residents to respond.

RESOLVED: The Panel agreed that the draft CTS scheme for 2018/2019 which went to public consultation is recommended as the final CTS scheme for 2018/2019.

The Policy, Performance and Personnel Manger presented the Council’s Equality Policy which had been revised and updated to reflect changes in legislation and to bring the policy up-to-date with regards to the roles and responsibilities of a local authority.

Members were reminded that the Panel had received two presentations outlining the work that had been undertaken during the review of the policy.

It was explained that the purpose of this report was to provide the Panel with the opportunity to review the final draft of the policy, prior to it going forward to Cabinet in November 2017.

In response to a question from Councillor Humphrey on people categorising what sex they wished to be, the Policy, Performance and Personnel Manager explained that the Council had a separate policy regarding transgender.

RESOLVED:  The Panel supported the adoption of the new Equality Policy as provided in Appendix 1.

The Panel received a presentation from the Assistant Director, Communications Manager and ICT Web Team Manager (copy attached).

Officers responded to questions from the Panel relating to:

·         SOCTITM Better Connected 2016/2017.  It was noted that the Borough Council had been awarded 3 stars out of 4 in 2016/2017 and had only just missed out on a 4 star rating.

·         Accessing details of current and historical planning applications on the Borough Council’s website.

·         Security issues.  It was explained that the Council Tax and personal data was hosted by Microsoft Cloud, which was the highest level of security.

·         Reasons for the increase in waiting time for customers telephoning the Council to access services.

·         Digital Newsroom.

·         The Borough Council

·         Development of Council’s software (contact us) and selling the service to other local authorities for an annual fee, which would generate additional income for the Council.

·         Articles published in the KL Magazine, Lynn News and Your Local Paper.

·         Stayconnected – the Borough Council’s weekly newsletter.

·         Press/Public are able to sign up to social media alerts.

Councillor Daubney commented on the progress made with the Borough Council’s website over the years was commendable and had made a significant positive difference in providing Council services to residents, businesses and tourists in the Borough..

Councillor Mrs Mellish, Portfolio Holder for Facilities and ICT, commented that Members should be proud of the services the Council provided as it was the forerunner in a number of cases.  She congratulated the whole team on the efforts officers put in to achieve the services delivered.  Councillor Mrs Mellish added that when Councillors attended Parish Council meetings they should encourage the public to sign up for the OneVu account.

RESOLVED:  1) That the Annual Update report be noted. 

2) The Assistant Director to circulate a list of officers’ direct dial telephone numbers to all Councillors.

To consider passing the following resolution:

That under Section 100(a)(40 of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of the Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

RESOLVED:  That under Section 100(4)(40) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

The Panel received an update on the King’s Court Accommodation project from the Property Services Manager.

The Property Services Manager responded to questions from the Panel relating to:

·         The lease arrangement.

·         Increased footfall in the King’s Court offices.

·         Reception area arrangements to ensure customers were directed to the correct service required.

The Panel was also advised of other projects which they may wish to consider monitoring and evaluating.

RESOLVED: 1) The update report be noted.

2) The Corporate Performance Panel monitor the King’s Court Accommodation project on an ongoing basis and the Property Services Manager provide update reports to the Panel as required.

3) The Property Services Manager to bring other relevant projects to the Panel as appropriate.

RETURN TO OPEN SESSION

To note the Committee’s Work Programme for 2017/2018.

The Panel noted the Work Programme for 2017/2018.

The Chairman, Councillor Wareham reminded Members that they could contact himself at any time if they wished to add an item to the Work Programme.

Councillor Collop provided an overview of his contact with the Hunstanton Sailing Club as the Borough Council’s representative and advised that he would be in a position to provide an update report to the Panel on 18 December 2017.

The next meeting of the Corporate Performance Panel will be held on Monday 18 December 2017 at 5 pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.

The next meeting of the Corporate Performance Panel will take place on Monday 18 December 2017 at the earlier start time of 5.00 pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.