Issue - meetings

Report of Councillor A Dale, Leader of the Council

RESOLVED

(1)       That Cabinet noted the outturns against the Council Plan 2019-2023 Targets as of 31 March 2022.

(2)       That targets ECO 30, ENV 08 and SER 03 be withdrawn from the corporate performance framework for the reasons stated in the report.

REASONS FOR DECISION – To inform Cabinet on the progress against the Council Plan targets, noting achievements and any areas of concern.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – None. The report provided information about the outturns against the Council Plan.

Please note that this was not a Key Decision and so can be implemented with immediate effect by officers.

The report to Cabinet set out performance achieved against the Council Plan targets. The report recommended that four targets be now withdrawn from the performance framework. These included SER 03 – to deliver £2M savings through the Transformation Programme by 2023. Members were informed that this specific target would no longer be required, as the work to deliver these savings was now firmly embedded within the Council’s efficiency plan and its financial management processes.

Cabinet discussed the report. Members reflected on the significant advances which had been made and the improved performance of the Council and its services. They were reminded that the Council Plan performance targets had been developed before the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Consequently, many of the specific targets did not reflect the changed circumstances in which the Council now operated. Cabinet felt it important that the performance framework as a whole be reviewed, to ensure that it accurately measured real performance in the new circumstances and what improvements had been achieved.

Specific mention was made in this context of the target ENV 17 – Measure of the percentage of cases of waste crime (Duty of Care and Fly Tipping) where sufficient evidence to prosecute  has been identified, are progressed to legal services, with a prosecution file within sixty days. Members felt that that this did not reflect the large amount of environmental enforcement work which had been carried out and especially the strong action taken against fly tipping by the Council. There was a consensus that target should be revised, so that it focused on the outcomes achieved rather than detailed process issues.

RESOLVED

(1)      That Cabinet noted the outturns against the Council Plan 2019-2023 Targets as of 31 March 2022.

(2)      That targets ECO 30, ENV 08 and SER 03 be withdrawn from the corporate performance framework for the reasons stated in the report.

REASONS FOR DECISION – To inform Cabinet on the progress against the Council Plan targets, noting achievements and any areas of concern.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – None. The report provided information about the outturns against the Council Plan.