Agenda item

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 this 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)            Future of Town Hall Site. A Member of the Committee raised that on page 154 the commentary stated that slippage is due to consideration of Member Briefing feedback, and it’s been incorporated into the stage two works. The Member asked what specific feedback or general concern was raised that was severe enough to cause a slippage. The Assistant Director of Corporate Services informed the Committee that alternative options, that hadn’t been fully explored, were raised by Members and involved going back to consultants to ask for an additional piece of work which caused a slippage in the timescales.

b)            Property Strategy. A Member of the Committee asked if we don’t have a property strategy, because it is covered by other existing documents, but then the other documents that are referenced in the current version of the Strategy are out of date or can’t be relied upon, when is the work going to be done to produce a property strategy or to update existing documents. The Chair noted the questions and agreed to raise them with the relevant officers outside of the meeting and provide a response to all Committee Members. The Member flagged the auditors’ comments on transparency issues within the Council and expressed their discontent with not getting a response to their question at the Committee Meeting. The Chair noted the comments.

c)            Recycling Rates. A Member of the Committee raised that on page 166, the recycling rate does not have a target and queried why that is. The Business Assurance Manager confirmed that this is being followed up with the relevant team and a response will be provided to Committee Members.

d)            Planning Enforcement. A Member of the Committee asked why there has been such a severe reduction from the inherent risk to the residual risk on planning enforcement. The Member raised that from their experience there has been no change to the reputation of the Council when it comes to planning enforcement, and they flagged that just because there is a gradual reduction in outstanding enforcement numbers, does not mean that enforcement is happening, it just means there are fewer case numbers. The Chair informed Members that internal audit provided a no assurance opinion for planning enforcement, and all the subsequent management actions have since been completed, and another internal audit review of planning enforcement is in progress currently. The Chair assured the Member that the question can be asked to the relevant officer and a response provided to all Committee Members.

e)            Retired risks. A Member of the Committee raised that the spatial strategy and SCC transport assessment risks are both being retired. The Member stated that there is now the risk of the inspector rejecting the local plan, which would lead to delays in adopting it. The Member asked if this risk had been considered and invited comments. The Chair informed the Committee that the risk raised could be fed back to the relevant team for them to consider, or to get their comments on it if they have considered it. The Assistant Director of Corporate Services explained that the risks are considered by the relevant officers and policy chairs and vice chairs on a monthly basis, so if the risk suggested is considered and added, it will be reflected in the next iteration of the risk register.  The Chair suggested the risk is raised to the Chair of the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee for their consideration.

f)             Section 24 directive. A Member of the Committee raised that there is nothing in the risk registers about a section 24 directive and queried why. The Chair explained that there is not anything currently in the risk register regarding a section 24 directive, as the information on Local Government Reorganisation has come out so recently, however it would be considered and put on the risk register in due course. The Director of Corporate Services (S151) echoed the comments of the Chair and explained that in order to determine the impact, there needed to be more information available regarding the timescales, and confirmed that once that is available, the risk will be added.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Note and comment on the performance and risk information located at Appendix 1.