Issue - meetings

Executive Member for Corporate Policy and Resources.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

1.    Notes the Reigate & Banstead 2025 Annual Report for 2020/21, and

2.    Notes the Equality Objectives Progress Reports for 2020/21.

The Executive Member for Corporate Policy and Resources, Councillor Lewanski, introduced the report which set out the progress made towards the Borough’s corporate objectives in 2020/21. Annex 1 set out the success measures that the Council was reported against and Annex 2 set out the progress made towards the Council’s Equality Objectives.

Councillor Lewanski explained that obviously the pandemic has had a direct or indirect impact on some areas of the Council’s work. However, the reports showed that, as well as the Borough’s comprehensive emergency response, it had made good progress on its corporate priorities.

The reports were considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at their 17 June meeting who made a number of observations to the Executive. These were outlined by Visiting Member and Chair of Overview and Scrutiny, Councillor Harrison, at the meeting. These included requesting more current information on environmental sustainability and carbon emissions and the need to assess the value of the actions taken throughout the year, both in terms of value for money, and feedback from residents. The Economic Prosperity budget was around £400k and Members asked for more detail on service spending which was not primarily business as usual or Covid-related. The Committee noted that around a third of residents surveyed had indicated that they did not feel well informed about Council services. O&S Committee Members asked the Executive to seek to understand and improve this figure and to consider new ways to engage with residents.

During the discussion, Visiting Members asked for local Borough information on emissions and the source of the employment sectors set out in contextual indicators which did not include manufacturing in the top 5 employment sectors locally. Written responses would be provided to Members.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

1.    Notes the Reigate & Banstead 2025 Annual Report for 2020/21, and

2.    Notes the Equality Objectives Progress Reports for 2020/21.