Issue - meetings

That:

1. The contents of the attached report and Appendices A and B be noted and Cabinet will continue to monitor and Challenge the Council’s performance alongside its financial performance for the same period.

2. The supplementary estimates (item 4.4 Appendix A) be noted and approved in order for them to be included in this year’s budget.

Cabinet considered a report detailing the financial position and Council performance for quarter 2.  The report outlined broad financial information and service performance.  Quarter 2 was the peak period of the Covid lockdown when a number of customer facing services were required to close or the customer base stopped using the service.

The report outlined funding support from Government and Councillor Sweeney referred to funding secured to date of £1.742m.  To date a number of grant payments had been made.  The Council had a good history of collection rates but the longer term impact on the Collection Fund would not be known until the following financial year. 

The performance for Quarter 2 was presented with a total 17 indicators monitored for the period.  The Leader explained the target relating to percentage of calls not answered had not been met due to a 25% increase in number of calls through the contact centre together with the introduction of the new Recycling Service and the Election canvass during the quarter both of which affected a high number of residents of the Borough.  Sickness levels, staff turnover and staff vacancy rates were all low for the quarter.  Both Council tax and Business Collection rates were now back on track.

Councillor Northcott reported performance was well within target in the indicators relating to Property and Planning and Development. 

Councillor Maxfield reported that there were currently 21 cases being discussed at the ASB, Youth Violence and Gangs Case conference.  Councillor Waring referred to the leisure and cultural facilities which had experienced significant impact by Covid 19 and when services had been required to close.  The staff were working hard to be prepared for when the services could open.

In relation to Priority 4 ‘A Town Centre for All’, there were 3 indicators relating to car park usage, footfall and stall occupancy for markets.  These had all been impacted by Covid 19 although Councillor Sweeney reported that the markets that had been able to be held had performed extremely well and were very popular.  He explained that a small business market was planned for December. 

Resolved: That:

1. The contents of the attached report and Appendices A and B be noted and Cabinet will continue to monitor and Challenge the Council’s performance alongside its financial performance for the same period.

2. The supplementary estimates (item 4.4 Appendix A) be noted and approved in order for them to be included in this year’s budget.