Issue - meetings

The Executive Member for Corporate Policy & Resources and the Executive Member for Finance & Governance.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive:

1.    Note the Key Performance Indicator performance for Q3 2021/22 as detailed in the report and Annex 1.

2.    Approve the Key Performance Indicators to be reported on in 2022/23 as detailed in Annex 1.1.

3.    Note the Budget Monitoring forecasts for Q3 2021/22 as detailed in the report and at Annexes 2 and 3.

Executive received reports outlining the Council’s performance up to the end of Quarter 3, from October to December 2021, including progress on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), proposed KPIs for the year ahead 2022/23 and the Council’s Revenue and Capital Budget position for Quarter 3 to 31 December 2022.

Executive Member for Corporate Policy & Resources, Councillor Lewanski, reported that of the 10 indicators reported on in Q3, seven were on target. There were three red-rated – KPI1 – Council tax collection, KPI2 – Business Rates collection and KPI7 – Affordable housing completions. The pandemic has had an impact on these three KPIs. Measures were in place to improve performance.

Executive Member for Finance & Governance, Councillor Schofield, reported on the Budget Monitoring forecasts for Q3 2021/22 as detailed in the report and Annexes 2 and 3. At Quarter 3, the projected full year outturn of the Revenue Budget was forecast as £17.133m against a management budget of £17.807m. The majority of these income streams are recovering following the pandemic, but the main area of concern remained loss of parking income. All spending on pandemic response were forecast to be funded within available Government grants.

The full year Capital Programme was forecast as £96.95m (68.7% below the approved budget for the year) due to related business cases still to be developed. Allocations to specific projects would be reported when approved.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered these items on 17 March 2022 as set out in the O&S Committee Minutes of that meeting.

There were no further observations from Executive Members.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive:

1.    Note the Key Performance Indicator performance for Q3 2021/22 as detailed in the report and Annex 1.

2.    Approve the Key Performance Indicators to be reported on in 2022/23 as detailed in Annex 1.1.

3.    Note the Budget Monitoring forecasts for Q3 2021/22 as detailed in the report and at Annexes 2 and 3.

To receive and consider the Quarter 3 Performance Report 2021/22 including Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Budget Monitoring.

The Executive Member for Corporate Policy and Resources presented the Quarter 3 Performance Report 2021/22 which related to the period October to December 2021. Of the ten Key Performance Indicators, seven were on target and three were outside their tolerance. Those outside their tolerance were:

·         Council Tax collection – there had been a delay in Council Tax recovery due to the impact of Covid-19 and the closure of courts. Measures were in place to improve collection performance.

·         Business Rates Collection – Business rates relief and the economic situation due to Covid-19 had led to rent recalculations. However normal collection rates were expected by the end of Quarter 4.

·         Affordable Housing Completions – completions were off target, but units were often completed in batches; a significant number of housing projects were expected to be completed later in the year which would bring numbers in line with the target.

Two new Key Performance Indicators were proposed for 2022/23:

·      Handling of Complaints – The Council was upgrading its complaints handling system and expected to be able to report on key metrics associated with complaints.

·      Sustainability – reduction in the Council’s carbon footprint compared to 2019/20 baseline.

Committee Members asked questions in the following areas:

Affordable Housing Completion – the target for affordable housing had not been met; Members asked how the completion of the RNIB housing project would assist with this when there was no affordable housing included in this project. It was reported that housing projects were in line to deliver roughly within target; 1,600 dwellings were under construction, 208 of these being affordable housing. The Project and Performance Team Leader would check the percentage of affordable housing on the RNIB site.

Members also questioned whether the affordable housing in progress would reach the target of 22%. It was reported that the Local Plan set a target for the entire period of the Local Plan. It was pointed out that affordable housing and non-affordable housing was delivered (and completions reported) differently by industry to the Council, which provides some challenges when tracking trends.

KPI 4 Staff Sickness – Reigate has the second highest rate of Covid-19 in Surrey; Members asked whether staff had been working from home whilst having Covid-19. Members were informed that during the pandemic, short term sickness absence had decreased, however, staff were encouraged not to come into work if they were sick and should not be working at all if they were unwell. The full effect of Covid-19 had not been felt with regards to mental health, but a wealth of support was in place if needed. The reception area would reopen the following week (w/c 21/03/2022) and offices would reopen over the coming weeks, however, hybrid working was working well and had benefits.

KPI benchmarking – Members enquired whether KPIs could be benchmarked against neighbouring boroughs. It was agreed that this should be possible, and the Projects and Performance Team would work with the Portfolio Holder to explore this.

The Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Finance  ...  view the full minutes text for item 79