Issue - meetings

Report of Chief Executive and Corporate Strategy and Performance Manager

Summary

This report covers the Council’s performance for the period 1 April to 30 June 2011 as measured through the Performance Management Framework.

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended:

(1)               To note the many achievements referred to in paragraph 1.4.

(2)               To request that officers report in the second quarter on the items identified in paragraph 1.5 where performance was below target or there are emerging issues.

(3)               To agree the responses identified to issues raised in the end of year performance report in paragraph 2.1 or to request additional action or information.

Recommendations approved, with the additional resolution that officers be requested to produce a one page summary of the performance highlights for circulation to all Members.

The Chief Executive and Corporate Strategy and Performance Manager submitted a report which presented the Council’s performance for the period 01 April to 30 June 2011 as measured through the Performance Management Framework.

Resolved

(1)               That the following achievements be noted:

Cherwell: A District of Opportunity

·        Job clubs continue to provide a strong service with solid attendance and special events planned for the next quarter to improve accessibility.

·        Business support – good progress has been made with support to local business through the advisory service and the investment partnership. In addition a business breakfast in Banbury was held around the theme of apprenticeships, local business were asked to makes pledges to improve local opportunities. This resulted in more than 140 pledges including ten apprenticeships and 28 placements lasting from one to eight weeks. The Council is also continuing its successful business apprenticeship scheme.

A Cleaner Greener Cherwell

·        Feasibility work has been commissioned to explore potential sites for more bring bank recycling centres.

·        A neighbourhood litter blitz has taken place in Kidlington, helping to work with local communities to improve the environmental quality of their areas.

A Safe, Healthy and Thriving Cherwell 

·        Good progress towards securing the long term future of the Banbury Museum through work to develop a museum trust.

·        The Council continues to provide a strong community leadership role for local health provision. During the first quarter the Council has supported the first meeting of the new Community Partnership Network to ensure effective stakeholder engagement in local health issues. The HortonHospital paediatric appointments and anaesthetic service models are now complete and in place.

An Accessible, Value for Money Council

·        Additional resources will be available over the summer to ensure that processing times for housing and council tax benefit claims do not increase.  Briefing sessions for voluntary and other agency advisors supporting those affected by benefits changes have continued and been very successful.

·        The Council has continued its programme of public engagement and consultation with work to consult on long term budget priorities undertaken. Successful community engagement events aimed at improving the accessibility and delivery of services have taken place, these include the parish, faith and disability forums as well as a number of consultations undertaken using the Council’s web based consultation portal.

(2)               That officers be requested to report in the second quarter on the following items where performance was below target or there are emerging issues.

Cherwell: A District of Opportunity

·        Number of households living in temporary accommodation: a rise in the figures has occurred during June with 36 households against a predicted number of 33. Preventative and advisory work continues and the implications of national policy changes are being monitored.

·        Deliver 500 new homes: performance against this target is off track with 32 completions against a target of 125. During the year it is expected that the rate will increase but the national economic context is still suppressing performance.

A Safe, Healthy and Thriving District

·        Leisure centre usage: visitor figures are down in comparison to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44