Issue - meetings

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

RESOLVED:

That the Executive:

1.     Noted the Key Performance Indicator performance for Q4 2021/22 as detailed in the report and Annex 1.

2.     Noted the Revenue Budget outturn for 2021/22 as detailed in the report and at Annex 2 and approved the recommended budget carry-forwards to 2022/23.

3.      Noted the Capital Programme outturn for 2021/22 as detailed in the report and at Annex 3.

Executive Member for Corporate Policy and Resources, Councillor Lewanski, introduced the report into the Council’s performance up to the end of Quarter 4 (January to March 2022).

Of the 11 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), ten were on target or within the agreed tolerance. There was one red-rated indicator – (KPI 10 Recycling) – against a challenging target of 60%, 54% was achieved in this quarter. However, the cumulative achievement for the year to date shows the Council’s strongest ever performance on recycling.

Councillor Lewanski also highlighted that performance on Council Tax and Business Rates collection had improved following the pandemic with collection rates for Council Tax collection now at 99.14% and Business Rates at 99.1%. Performance against homelessness targets and housing delivery were both above target with 43 completions of affordable units in the borough.

The report was discussed at Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 16 June 2022 meeting and observations from the Committee published as an Addendum. Vice-Chair of O&S, Councillor Walsh, noted the good performance shown in the KPIs, especially the Council Tax Collection improved rates. The percentage of household waste that is recycled and composted was a stretch target for the Council.

Visiting Members commented on KPI 7 – Net affordable housing completions and noted the need for more affordable housing in the borough. It was confirmed that around £19m was set aside in the budget for affordable housing. Available land was needed, and it took many years to approve and build affordable homes. Details of an early feasibility stage project could be provided to Members.

It was also noted that some developers built piecemeal smaller developments, so they did not have to make a financial contribution on affordable housing which was frustrating.

Executive Member for Finance and Governance, Councillor Schofield, highlighted the financial performance in the provisional Revenue and Capital Programme Budget Outturn 2021/22. This included:

·        The full-year outturn was £16.5m against a management budget of £17.4m resulting in an underspend of £900k.

·        Central Budgets’ outturn was £1.5m against a management budget of £1.1m resulting in an overspend of £400k, mainly as a result of pension costs paid to Surrey Pension Fund.

·        The challenging impact of the pandemic were closely monitored throughout the year and every possible source of funding had been pursued. Income losses directly attributable to the pandemic totalled £1.4m and £400k of this was covered by the Sales, Fees & Charges Grant from Government.

·        Overall there was a net overspend of £541k for the year which was funded by calling on the £2m COVID-19 Reserve created as part of the 2021/22 budget setting.

·        The Council was starting from a position of relative strength moving into 2022/23 and was focusing on addressing medium term risks through our Financial Sustainability Plan.

The report was discussed at Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 16 June 2022 meeting and observations from the Committee published as an Addendum. Vice-Chair of O&S, Councillor Walsh, noted the net overspend and COVID-19 related losses (including drop in car parking income)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8

To consider progress in the Council’s performance for the fourth quarter 2021/22 including KPIs, and to make any observations to the Executive.

The Committee received reports giving an overview of the Council’s performance for Quarter 4 2021/22, including Key Performance Indicator (KPI) reporting, as well as revenue and capital budget monitoring. The reports were due to go to Executive on 23 June.

Cath Rose, Head of Corporate Policy, Projects and Business Assurance, and Pat Main, Head of Finance outlined the report to Members.

Points to note on KPIs included:

·         Of the 11 KPIs that are reported on in Quarter 4, 10 were on target or within agreed tolerance.

·         The sole red rated KPI 10 which related to recycling, is reported one quarter in arrears and against a target of 60%, 54% had been achieved. Despite not achieving the target in Q3 it was recognised that the target is a challenging one and the cumulative achievement for the year to date is the Council’s strongest ever performance for recycling. Following comments from the Committee at the last meeting, additional contextual information had been added, including residual waste data which indicates a decrease in residual waste generated per household compared to the previous year.

·         Council tax collection was reported at 97.9% and business rates collection was reported at 99.8% which were great improvements on earlier in the year and collection rates had since increased even further with Council tax collection at 99.14% and business rates collection at 99.91%.

·         Performance against homelessness targets had been consistently above target, despite the challenges presented to the team through the pandemic. The vast majority of those in need of temporary accommodation within the borough had been accommodated.

·         Both overall housing completions and affordable housing completions were above target.

·         Neighbourhood Services indicators KPI 8 and KPI 9 show that the local environment continues to be kept clean, with a reliable waste collection service for residents.

·         Several contextual indicators had been included; these are indicators where no target has been set but are useful for considering the council's performance.

Members commented that the appearance of the report had improved greatly and was very useful.

Members made comments and observations on the following areas:

Homelessness – Members asked whether the figures for homelessness could be compared to the previous year in order to predict a final figure for the end of this year. It was confirmed that the figures fluctuated throughout the year, and individual cases often spanned reporting quarters, however a comparison with the previous year could be sought. A written answer would be provided by the Head of Corporate Policy, Projects and Business Assurance after the meeting.

Affordable Housing and affordable housing completions – Members asked how many of the affordable housing completions are socially rented and how many are affordable rented. Members also asked whether the KPI was green rated based on over delivering on the number of homes in one particular year, which might cause other problems in the medium to long term. It was confirmed that the way in which the data is collected from planning applications does not allow for distinction between rent levels  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6