Issue - meetings

The appendix to this report provides an overview of the council’s performance with respect to its 2024-25 annual plan objectives, key performance indicators, corporate risks, committee risks, and annual governance statement actions.

The appendix to the report provided an overview of the council’s performance with respect to its 2024-25 annual plan objectives, key performance indicators, corporate risks, committee risks, and annual governance statement actions.

The following matters were considered:

a)             Households in nightly paid accommodation. A Member of the Committee asked why there has been an increase in the number of households living in nightly paid accommodation during Q1 2024/25. The Business Assurance Manager confirmed that they would take the question to the relevant officer and a written response would be provided.

b)             Resource Issue. A Member of the Committee asked what the plan is to increase resources to ensure that targets are met regarding progressing the actions from the CSP Review recommendations. The Chair confirmed that a written response would be provided after the meeting once the relevant officers were consulted.

c)             Balanced budget. A Member of the Committee raised that the ‘set a balanced budget’ target is rated as green, they queried if that is because the Council will have a balanced budget soon but does not presently. The Member also asked Officers to explain what a balanced budget means. The Chief Finance Officer informed the Committee that the Council has a statutory duty to have a balanced budget. The Chief Finance Officer continued to explain that there is flexibility in how to balance the budget. The Council’s budget is balanced at the moment by a contribution from the Council’s reserves. The Chief Finance Officer explained that the Council does have a budget deficit and diminishing reserves, and the Strategy and Resources Committee agreed a Framework in July for setting the budget and a number of workstreams to reduce and eliminate that deficit, to protect the Council’s reserves.

d)             Staff sickness. A Member of the Committee asked if the Council understands why the average number of days of staff sickness is coming down. The Chair confirmed that a written response would be provided after the meeting once the relevant officers were consulted.

e)             Town Hall Move. A Member of the Committee asked for an explanation of the commentary on AP24/5.4 and an update on the project timeline. The Chair noted that this Annual Plan Project item was updated on the 22^nd of August so there may have been developments since the report was produced. The Business Assurance Manager confirmed that they would take the question to the relevant officer and a written response would be provided. The Business Assurance Manager informed the Committee that ‘qs on board’ meant a Quantity Surveyor had been appointed.

f)               Planning Applications. A Member of the Committee queried if the KPIs for Planning Applications would result in the Planning Committee approving more applications quickly. The Chair declared that he is also the Chair of Planning Committee. The Chair explained to the Committee that the Planning Committee are not looking at the KPIs when deciding Planning Applications, the KPIs are indicators for which the Council is measured on by Central Government.

g)             Tracking of Stage  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19