Issue - meetings

Report of Head of Transformation

Purpose of Report

This report covers the Council’s performance for the period 1 October 2013 – 31 December 2013 as measured through the Performance Management Framework.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1         To note the many achievements referred to in paragraph 3.1.

1.2         To identify any performance related matters for review or consideration in future reports identified in paragraph 3.2.

1.3         To note progress on issues raised in the Quarter two performance report highlighted in paragraph 3.3.

Resolved

(1)          That the following achievements be noted:

Cherwell: A District of Opportunity

·         Support vulnerable residents, focussing on homelessness prevention & housing advice is reporting as Green*. We have maintained good performance in delivering homeless prevention focused services.  In this quarter the Housing Needs Team opened 233 prevention cases, of these, 101 only required advice, 11 did become homeless and 116 were prevented from becoming homeless through casework intervention.  In the period a total of 31 homeless applications were taken and 10 full duties accepted.  This represents only 13% of those approaching the Housing Needs Team stating they are in housing crisis.

·         Number of households living in temporary accommodation         is reporting as Green*. At the end of December 13 there were 28 Households in Temporary Accommodation, the number has gone down mainly as a result of being able to successfully discharge our duties and enable applicants to move on to secure settled accommodation, whilst keeping the numbers of those presenting for homeless duties low due to the continued focus on homeless prevention.

·         Processing of major applications within 13 weeks (%) is reporting as Green*. The improvement measures have resulted in a sustained increase in performance this year to date. Quarter 3 performance of 80% represents a significant improvement on historic performance.

·         Processing of minor applications within 8 weeks is reporting as Green. Performance this quarter has continued to show improvement, following the action taken during the previous quarter improved. As anticipated, the backlog in registration took some time to take effect, but the improvement is now expected to be maintained. This reported as Amber last quarter.

·         Average time taken to process new Housing Benefit Claims (days) is reporting as Green. A further improvement reflecting the fact that the backlog from summer has been cleared. Performance year to date: 16.74.This reported as Amber last quarter.

·         Protect and enhance the quality of the built environment by completion of Conservation Area Reviews and strong design guidance for all new developments is reporting as Green. The issues reported in the last quarter have now largely been resolved. A new conservation officer has been recruited, who is proving to be a real asset to the team. The level of pre application advice and planning and listed building applications being managed by the team is very high at the moment, which has led to some of the strategic, longer term projects taking longer than initially planned. Conservation Area Appraisals are on target and there are four appraisals and management plans which are very close to being published and should be signed off in the next month. This reported as Amber last quarter.

·         % houses developed on previously developed land          is reporting as Green*. 34 of the 74 houses completed in Quarter 3 were on previously developed land. This brings the number to 103 out of 275 year to date. This reported as Red last quarter.

A Cleaner Greener Cherwell

·         Work with partners to improve the energy efficiency of homes & enable more residents to achieve affordable energy bills  ...  view the full decision text for item 101

The Head of Transformation submitted a report which presented the Council’s performance for the period 1 October 2013 – 31 December 2013 as measured through the Performance Management Framework.

Resolved

(1)          That the following achievements be noted:

Cherwell: A District of Opportunity

·         Support vulnerable residents, focussing on homelessness prevention & housing advice is reporting as Green*. We have maintained good performance in delivering homeless prevention focused services.  In this quarter the Housing Needs Team opened 233 prevention cases, of these, 101 only required advice, 11 did become homeless and 116 were prevented from becoming homeless through casework intervention.  In the period a total of 31 homeless applications were taken and 10 full duties accepted.  This represents only 13% of those approaching the Housing Needs Team stating they are in housing crisis.

·         Number of households living in temporary accommodation         is reporting as Green*. At the end of December 13 there were 28 Households in Temporary Accommodation, the number has gone down mainly as a result of being able to successfully discharge our duties and enable applicants to move on to secure settled accommodation, whilst keeping the numbers of those presenting for homeless duties low due to the continued focus on homeless prevention.

·         Processing of major applications within 13 weeks (%) is reporting as Green*. The improvement measures have resulted in a sustained increase in performance this year to date. Quarter 3 performance of 80% represents a significant improvement on historic performance.

·         Processing of minor applications within 8 weeks is reporting as Green. Performance this quarter has continued to show improvement, following the action taken during the previous quarter improved. As anticipated, the backlog in registration took some time to take effect, but the improvement is now expected to be maintained. This reported as Amber last quarter.

·         Average time taken to process new Housing Benefit Claims (days) is reporting as Green. A further improvement reflecting the fact that the backlog from summer has been cleared. Performance year to date: 16.74.This reported as Amber last quarter.

·         Protect and enhance the quality of the built environment by completion of Conservation Area Reviews and strong design guidance for all new developments is reporting as Green. The issues reported in the last quarter have now largely been resolved. A new conservation officer has been recruited, who is proving to be a real asset to the team. The level of pre application advice and planning and listed building applications being managed by the team is very high at the moment, which has led to some of the strategic, longer term projects taking longer than initially planned. Conservation Area Appraisals are on target and there are four appraisals and management plans which are very close to being published and should be signed off in the next month. This reported as Amber last quarter.

·         % houses developed on previously developed land          is reporting as Green*. 34 of the 74 houses completed in Quarter 3 were on previously developed land. This brings the number to 103 out of 275 year to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 101