Agenda item

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In presenting the report, the Assistant to the Chief Executive explained that the Council’s performance management framework had historically included performance monitoring and reporting of performance.  Performance monitoring reports had been presented to the Corporate Performance Panel.

The Assistant to the Chief Executive reminded the Panel that a Covid-19 Recovery Strategy was agreed by Council on 8 October 2020.  The report therefore provided an update on the corporate performance monitoring indicators for the Recovery Strategy for the 2021/22 year.

The key issues were outlined as set out in the report.

The Panel’s attention was drawn to the following sections of the report:

·         Rent arrears on industrial units was up 31% for the same quarter last year but it was noted that covid moratorium on possession proceedings would be lifted at the end of March 2022 and Property Services would be monitoring this carefully and take further action on those in arrears.

·         Processing of changes of circumstances – Universal Credit varied according to earnings and the Council was receiving around 2,800 council tax changes per month and would need to be worked on to ensure that the benefit paid was correct.  It was noted that resources had been moved to test and trace but this would end soon and a new procedure was being rolled out to improve performance in this area.

·         Housing – changes in domestic abuse legislation had led to an increase in the number of presentations and these had to be treated as priority need.

The Assistant Director, Central Services responded to questions from Councillor Morley regarding 1.4 % of short term absence – excluding Covid-19 related absence/working from home and explained that no specific analysis had been undertaken on the breakdown but could look to see what information was available.

In response to questions from Councillor Morley relating to 2.2 – Number in employment claim Universal Credit because of Covid, etc the Assistant Chief Executive undertook to look further into the points raised and suggested looking at the dates a lot of it was related to Covid and universal credit was based on people’s earnings.

Following further questions from Councillor Morley on 2.7 – Total value of payments paid to local suppliers, the Assistant to the Chief Executive explained that it was not believed that Covid had impacted upon the Council paying invoices when received.  It was noted the indicator was down 24% and the Assistant to the Chief Executive undertook to find out more information and email a response to the Panel.

In response to questions from the Chair on 3.2 – Total tonnage of waste recycled and composted and separating those two figures and different financials being attached to them in due course, the Assistant to the Chief Executive explained that she would ask the question and would report back when the next full year report was presented to the Panel.

Following questions from Councillor Morley on 5.8 – Number of unique visitors to Visit West Norfolk Website and driving up the number of visitors to the website, the Assistant to the Chief Executive advised that September data was missing as there were technical issues and highlighted that the date was not a true reflection of what it was.  It was explained that on a monthly basis there was around 64,000 visitors to the website at the start of Covid 2021 and undertook to find out additional information as requested.

Councillor Morley commented that the Panel should note that the Corporate Business Plan had changed and that key performance indicators were evolving for the new Corporate Business Plan and that the Panel should recognise this.

The Chair thanked the officers for the work being undertaken.

RESOLVED:  The Panel reviewed and noted the council’s performance indicators for Q3 2021/22.  Performance against these indicators will continue to be reported to the Corporate Performance Panel via periodic updates.